SCOTLAND

Departmental Air Travel

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many journeys  (a) he and his predecessors and  (b) his officials made by aeroplane in the course of their duties in each of the last five years.

Ann McKechin: The number of aeroplane journeys undertaken by Scotland Office Ministers and officials, in the course of their duties, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Ministers 19 9 14 22.5 
			 Officials 314.5 291 294 249.5 
			 Total 333.5 300 308 272 
		
	
	A return journey is classed as one journey; if, for example, the outward leg of a journey is undertaken by air and the return by train, this is shown as half a journey. Figures are not available for years prior to 2004-05.
	Travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and the "Civil Service Management Code" respectively.

Departmental Energy

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of energy it wastes.

Ann McKechin: The Government's Delivery Plan for "Sustainable Procurement and Operations on the Government Estate", published in August 2008, provides a full account of the initiatives Departments are taking to reduce their energy waste. The Government have committed to updating the Delivery Plan on a six- monthly basis, and the first of these updates was published on 18 December 2008.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent maintaining its website in each of the last five years.

Ann McKechin: Figures are only available for the period during which the current Scotland Office website has been in existence. The figure for 2004-05 includes the initial cost of designing and building the site.
	
		
			  Financial year  Cost (£) 
			 2004-05 24,718 
			 2005-06 4,964 
			 2006-07 840 
			 2007-08 2,990

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Paid Posts

Evan Harris: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2008,  Official Report, column 201W, on paid posts, for what reason the posts of Secretary to the Church Commissioners and Chief Financial Officer are reserved for practising Christians.

Stuart Bell: Both post holders have particular responsibilities for maintaining the Christian ethos of their organisations as well as representing the Church to others in society. Current discrimination legislation allows religious organisations to restrict appointment to Christians or Anglicans in those circumstances.

Paid Posts

Evan Harris: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2008,  Official Report, column 201W, on paid posts, whether the post of  (a) Secretary to the Church Commissioners and  (b) Chief Financial Officer could be filled by a practising Roman Catholic.

Stuart Bell: The Chief Financial Officer has a responsibility to help maintain the Christian ethos of the National Church Institutions and this post could be filled by a Roman Catholic or a person from any other Christian denomination.
	The Secretary to the Church Commissioners has a particular responsibility for representing the Church of England and maintaining its ethos within the Commissioners and, as such, appointments have been restricted to Anglicans in the past.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Biofuels

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what percentage of the fuel used at Drax power station was  (a) tar sands,  (b) shale and  (c) other oils in the last period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: The Department does not collect fuel usage data at this level of detail. Furthermore, the Department has given an undertaking that any fuel usage data that is collected from individual generators is used only for the purpose of producing aggregate statistics—company level data may be commercially sensitive and thus cannot be released.

Mining: Horses

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many ponies are working in mining enterprises.

Mike O'Brien: Certain coal mining museums may keep ponies to illustrate their former role, but they are not employed in any underground capacity, nor are any ponies known to be working in other coal mining enterprises.

Renewable Energy: Expenditure

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department and its predecessors have spent on the development of  (a) renewable fuels and  (b) clean engines in the last three years.

Si�n Simon: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department's expenditure in these areas falls to the Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board.
	Research Councils' total expenditure on bioenergy (including biofuels and biomass) and clean engines was 8.45 million and 1.65 million respectively for the years 2005-08.
	Technology Strategy Board's total expenditure on collaborative R and D projects in the areas of bioenergy and clean engines was 2.98 million and 1.64 million respectively for the years 2005-08.

Warm Front Scheme

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many claims for assistance made through the Warm Front scheme are outstanding.

Joan Ruddock: The current number of applications outstanding is 106,179. Each of these applications are at very different stages and will be eligible for a range of measures. Some customers are awaiting survey, others are awaiting work to be installed and others have an outstanding contribution to make to the cost of the work.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Public Expenditure

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much public expenditure was incurred in respect of  (a) Greatrex Associates,  (b) Paul Sullivan Snooker and Pool,  (c) Coffee Republic,  (d) Bristol and District Retirement Council,  (e) Cherubs Floral Design Ltd. and  (f) Total Horsemanship Ltd in 2007-08; and for what purpose in each case.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 8 December 2008
	 : From information held centrally, the core-Department's financial system records the following expenditure incurred with the businesses listed:
	
		
			  Name  Purpose  Expenditure () 
			 Greatrex Associates Executive Management Coaching 2000.00 
			 Paul Sullivan Snooker and Pool  0 
			 Coffee Republic Sandwich Lunch at Conference 97.88 
			 Bristol and District Retirement Council Retirement Courses 440.00 
			 Cherubs Floral Design Ltd Flowers for Reception, Innovation Centre, Reading 1850.85 
			 Total Horsemanship Ltd Natural Horsemanship Course 240.00

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities have published schedules of works for maintenance of  (a) rural rivers and  (b) coastal areas at risk of flooding; and when each such schedule was published.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA does not currently collate information published by local authorities regarding the maintenance of river and coastal defences.
	The Pitt review recommended that schedules should be published for each local authority area. The Government support this recommendation and the Environment Agency will publish information on planned maintenance, after consulting regional flood defence committees and other local stakeholders, from 2009-10.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Data Protection

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many members of staff in his Department have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for losing (i) memory sticks, (ii) laptop computers, (iii) desktop computers and (iv) mobile telephones belonging to his Department in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, no members of staff have been  (a) investigated,  (b) suspended and  (c) dismissed for losing (i) memory sticks, (ii) laptop computers, (iii) desktop computers and (iv) mobile telephones in each year since 1997.

Sports: Public Participation

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of people  (a) under and  (b) over 16 years who participated in at least one active sport in the last four weeks in each year for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The 'Taking Part' survey is a continuous household survey providing national data on participation in culture, leisure and sport by adults aged 16 and over. In those households containing at least one child aged 11 to 15, an interview is also conducted with a randomly selected child.
	The following tables show the percentage and number of children and adults who participated in active sport in the past four weeks.
	
		
			  Table 1: Participation in active sport by children aged 11-15 
			   Percentage  Population ( Thousand ) 
			 2006 95 3,030 
			 2007 95 2,980 
			  Note:  Fieldwork for the child element began in January 2006 and runs on a January to December cycle. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Participation in active sport by adults aged 16 and over 
			   Percentage  Population ( Thousand ) 
			 2005-06 54 21,330 
			 2006-07 53 21,310 
			 2007-08 54 22,190 
			  Note:  Fieldwork for the main adult survey began in July 2005 and runs on a July to June cycle.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Leader of the House what expert advisers have been commissioned by her Office since 1997; on what topic each was commissioned; and whether the adviser so appointed made a declaration of political activity in each case.

Chris Bryant: Since May 2007 there have been no expert advisers commissioned by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House. Information prior to 2007 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Government are committed to publishing an annual list detailing the number and costs of special advisers. Information for 2007-08 was published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 99-102WS.

TRANSPORT

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what expert advisers have been commissioned by his Department and its agencies since 1997; on what topic each was commissioned; and whether the adviser so appointed made a declaration of political activity in each case.

Geoff Hoon: The information requested is not held centrally and to compile a list would incur disproportionate cost.
	The Department publishes on its website details of appointments to the public bodies which it sponsors.
	Since 2003, the Government have published an annual list detailing the number and costs of special advisers. Information for 2007-08 was published by the Prime Minister on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 99-102W.

Luxembourg Rail Protocol

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the  (a) purpose and  (b) content of the Luxembourg Rail Protocol to the 2001 Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport has assessed the Rail Protocol to the 2001 Cape Town Convention on International Interests on Mobile Equipment, including undertaking both formal and informal consultations of the UK's principal rolling stock companies (ROSCOs) and rail industry. We have concluded that there is no advantage to the UK in ratifying the Protocol.

Park and Ride Schemes: Middlesbrough

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what support his Department plans to give to Middlesbrough's proposed park and ride facility; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Middlesbrough Local Transport Plan (LTP2) contains aspirations to introduce park and ride facilities. The Department for Transport is making 5.46 million available to Middlesbrough over the three financial years, 2008-11, through their LTP2 integrated transport block allocation. It is for Middlesbrough to determine how best to use this capital funding to deliver the stated outcomes of its plan.
	There are also proposals to improve heavy rail services in the Tees Valley through the Tees Valley Metro project. The provision of a new station at Nunthorpe Parkway with associated car parking is an element of this package. The Department is committed to working with the Tees Valley Metro promoters to help them to develop their business case and I look forward to seeing the final document in due course. Funding for part or all of these proposals will need to be identified in the Regional Funding Advice (RFA2) transport investment programme for the North East. In this respect, the RFA2 response from the North East Region is to be submitted to Government at the end of February.

Railways: Mobile Phones

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to restrict mobile telephone signal provision to some or all carriages on rail services.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport does not micro-manage train franchises. The use of mobile phones on trains is a matter for the individual train operating companies, some of whom have placed restrictions on use by designating 'quiet coaches'.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Taleban and  (b) non-Afghan fighters have been killed by (i) UK and (ii) other NATO forces in Afghanistan since 2003.

John Hutton: I have nothing to add to the answer my predecessor gave on 6 May 2008,  Official Report, column 832W, to the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell) and on 1 November 2006,  Official Report, column 423W, to the hon. Member for North Devon (Nick Harvey).

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 75W, to the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone).

Colombia: Drugs

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent in providing counter-narcotics assistance to members of the Colombian armed forces in each year since 2000.

Bob Ainsworth: We do not divulge the details of our counter-narcotics work in Colombia, including costs, because of the risk to the people concerned. The parliamentary ombudsman has upheld this approach.

Departmental Catering

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department's working group on sustainable catering procurement objectives has made; what recommendations it has made; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: The original working group, which looked at a range of facilities management services, reported in July 2008, but did not make any specific recommendations in respect of sustainable catering.
	The Defence Food Services Integrated Project Team has established a separate sustainability working group to look specifically at sustainable catering procurement.
	Achievements to date include reducing the overall carbon footprint through reductions in storage and transport of ration packs and by amending the frequency of deliveries and routes to military establishments. The Defence Food Services Integrated Project Team has also introduced a range of ethically traded products and increased the proportion of food it sources from UK suppliers; initiatives are under way to increase this further. The team has also held a sustainability launch event which aimed to give small and medium suppliers the ability to improve their own environmental management.

Departmental Procurement

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's  (a) pre Main Gate and  (b) post Main Gate (i) category A, (ii) category B and (iii) category C procurement projects were as at 31 March in each year since 2002.

Quentin Davies: Details of the Department's pre Main Gate and post Main Gate category A, B and C equipment procurement projects at 31 March 2002, 2003 and 2004 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	I will place a list of the Department's category A, B and C post Initial Gate Pre Main Gate and post Main Gate pre In Service Date equipment procurement projects for years ending 31 March 2005 to 2008 in the Library of the House.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the deployment of armed forces to  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan has cost in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) each year since 2003-04; and what projection he has made of the cost in 2009-10.

John Hutton: The audited net additional cost to the MOD for the cost of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2003-04 to 2007-08 are set out as follows:
	
		
			  Iraq 
			   million 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Resource Costs 1,051 747 798 787 1,055 
			 Capital Costs 260 163 160 169 402 
			 Total 1,311 910 958 956 1,457 
		
	
	
		
			  Afghanistan 
			   million 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Resource Costs 36 58 148 560 1,071 
			 Capital Costs 10 9 51 178 433 
			 Total 46 67 199 738 1,504 
		
	
	The net additional cost of operations is volatile. Nevertheless, our current forecast of costs in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2008-09 are set out in our winter supplementary estimates as follows:
	
		
			  Iraq, 2008-09 
			million 
			 Resource Costs 1,141 
			 Capital Costs 256 
			 Total 1,379 
		
	
	
		
			  Afghanistan, 2008-09 
			million 
			 Resource Costs 1,511 
			 Capital Costs 807 
			 Total 2,318 
		
	
	Our final estimate for 2008-09 will be set out in the spring supplementary estimates. Our forecast costs for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for 2009-10 will be published in the main estimates in spring 2009.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what time scale his Department has set for the transfer of the Merlin helicopter from operations in Iraq to Afghanistan.

John Hutton: In line with the time scales set out in the Prime Minister's statement on Iraq on 18 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 1233-35, the Merlin Battlefield Helicopter Force will remain fully committed to supporting UK forces in Iraq until circumstances allow for its withdrawal. We are already doing all we can to ensure a swift transition of the Merlin Force to Afghanistan, including the procurement of necessary equipment modifications for operations there. Nevertheless, we envisage a short period of around four months for the force to prepare for operations in Afghanistan after extraction from Iraq.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel in each service he expects to remain in Iraq following the completion of Operation Archive.

John Hutton: As the Prime Minister set out on 18 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 1233-35, we will complete our remaining military tasks in Iraq by 31 May 2009 and move to a normal bilateral defence relationship. The subsequent withdrawal of our forces will be complete by 31 July. As part of the future relationship, the Government of Iraq have indicated that they would like to continue to receive military training and education from the UK. We will shortly begin discussions to establish the precise scope of this training and education, which will inform the number and breakdown by service of any UK service personnel in Iraq after 31 July. Our current assumption is that this activity would involve around 400 UK service personnel.
	Operation Archive is not concerned with the overall withdrawal of UK forces by 31 July 2009. Rather, it is the name given to the periodic removal from Iraq of equipment no longer required by UK forces.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Deprived Communities

Ian McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the results of his Department's recent research on levels of aspiration in deprived communities; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Aspirations research, published jointly by the Social Exclusion Taskforce, DCSF and CLG in December 2008, is highly significant and directly informs the new Inspiring Communities programme announced in the New Opportunities White Paper yesterday.
	Aspirations have an important influence on young people's educational attainment. This research found that young people in some deprived areas are less likely to develop high aspirations. These areas often feature close-knit social networks; stable populations and isolation from diverse economic opportunities. Government have made great progress in deprived areas but pessimistic attitudes can be formed over generations and are hard to shift.
	The Government are investing 10.1 million in a new Inspiring Communities campaign, bringing together local businesses, schools, parents and the wider community to find innovative ways to inspire young people and tackle attitudinal barriers.

Official Statistics

Evan Harris: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the procedures governing the release or publication of official statistics by civil servants, Government special advisers and Ministers.

Kevin Brennan: The Government consulted on new rules for pre-release access to statistics in their final form early last year. It introduced secondary legislation into Parliament in the summer and following debate in both Houses the new rules came into force on 1 December. These rules substantially improve the procedures governing the release of official statistics.

Social Mobility and Economic Growth

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effects of the Government's policies on social mobility and economic growth.

Liam Byrne: The recently published Getting on, getting ahead White Paper demonstrated that while social mobility did not increase in the eighties and early nineties, new evidence suggests this might be beginning to change.
	The latest academic research shows there are encouraging signs, with educational results becoming less dependent on a person's social background, more young people from low income backgrounds going to university and evidence that mobility in work is starting to rise.
	The New Opportunities White Paper sets out how the Government will continue to address the key drivers of social mobility.

Third Sector

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of Government policies designed to build capacity in the third sector.

Kevin Brennan: The Government invest in building the capacity of the third sector through Capacitybuilders and Futurebuilders; both have commissioned independent evaluations of their programmes. The National Audit Office has also been investigating the effectiveness, impact and value for money of Government investment in building the capacity of the third sector, and plans to report early this year.

Third Sector

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he has had with representatives of the third sector on the effect on third sector organisations of the current economic climate.

Kevin Brennan: After the third sector summit on 24 November 2008, the Government announced their intention to publish an Action Plan. The third sector was asked for input to help inform the plan and more than 80 submissions have been received from third sector organisations and individuals about the impact of the economic downturn and proposed responses. The quality of this input has been high, and we plan to publish the Action Plan in the coming weeks.

Government Statistics

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of procedures to prevent the premature release of Government statistics.

Kevin Brennan: Responsibility for setting and assessing good practice regarding the release of official statistics (other than pre-release access to official statistics in their final form) rests with the UK Statistics Authority. The Authority has just published its Code of Practice for Statistics, on which it consulted last year. The Government will implement the Code as it applies to the statistics they produce and use, and will take seriously any breaches of the Code.

Information: Unauthorised Disclosure

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what role  (a) the Cabinet Secretary and  (b) his Department has in investigating unauthorised disclosures of information from Government departments.

Liam Byrne: The role of the Cabinet Office in leak investigations was provided to the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) by the Cabinet Secretary on Wednesday 11 December 2008. A copy of the memorandum was placed in the Libraries of the House.

Charities: Government Assistance

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Government are taking to support charities in the economic downturn.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South-West Norfolk (Christopher Fraser) and the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) to PQs 246147 and 246535.

Damian Green

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what role the Cabinet Office played in the circumstances leading up to the recent arrest of the hon. Member for Ashford.

Liam Byrne: The role of the Cabinet Office in leak investigations generally and in the specific investigation relating to Home Office leaks has been set out in a memorandum provided to the Public Administration Select Committee on 11 December 2008, a copy of which is available in the Libraries of the House.

Death: Cancer

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people  (a) contracted skin cancer and  (b) died from melanoma in the latest period for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated January 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people (a) contracted skin cancer and (b) died from melanoma in the latest period for which information is available. (247085)
	The latest available figures for newly diagnosed cases of cancer (incidence) are for the year 2006 while the latest figures for deaths are for the year 2007.
	Table 1 below provides the number of newly diagnosed cases of malignant melanoma of skin for 2006 and the number of deaths from malignant melanoma of skin for 2007.
	
		
			  Table 1: Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of malignant melanoma of skin( 1)  in 2006 and number of deaths from malignant melanoma of skin( 1)  in 2007, persons: England 
			   Malignant melanoma of skin 
			 Cases diagnosed in 2006 8,658 
			 Number of deaths in 2007 1,710 
			 (1) Malignant melanoma of skin is coded to C43 in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10).  Source: Office for National Statistics

Death: Weather

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people died from factors attributable to cold weather in  (a) each London borough and  (b) each English region in each of the last 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated January 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people died from factors attributable to cold weather in (a) each London borough and (b) each English region in each of the last 10 years. (247032)
	Estimates of excess winter deaths are based on the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July). It is not possible to say whether these deaths were related to cold weather. The table attached provides the number of excess winter deaths in (a) each London Borough and (b) each government office region from 1997/98 to 2006/07 (the latest available).
	
		
			  Table 1. Number of excess winter deaths( 1,2)  in each London borough and government office region, 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			  Deaths (persons) 
			  Area  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  London boroughs   
			 City of London 0 0 10 10 0 0 -10 0 0 10 
			 Barking and Dagenham 40 120 200 120 90 100 90 110 60 60 
			 Barnet 150 260 290 60 240 130 110 140 100 50 
			 Bexley 130 170 190 140 10 150 70 150 110 120 
			 Brent 60 150 180 70 70 70 100 90 30 40 
			 Bromley 50 280 260 190 50 150 120 120 130 150 
			 Camden 80 120 120 70 50 60 70 90 50 30 
			 Croydon 130 290 320 160 190 100 100 150 130 40 
			 Ealing 110 140 210 50 120 120 70 150 50 60 
			 Enfield 150 280 260 40 120 180 70 150 80 60 
			 Greenwich 60 130 190 110 60 70 70 140 20 60 
			 Hackney 60 120 120 60 40 90 0 50 80 60 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 10 90 120 80 60 100 0 110 50 70 
			 Haringey 80 120 100 50 70 110 60 60 50 30 
			 Harrow 120 140 150 100 80 60 80 90 70 40 
			 Havering 30 230 290 50 150 180 170 160 100 90 
			 Hillingdon 130 130 240 110 120 100 70 150 120 70 
			 Hounslow 80 150 180 100 110 80 60 20 130 -10 
			 Islington 40 100 80 20 70 40 40 80 70 70 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 40 50 80 30 40 40 50 70 30 60 
			 Kingston upon Thames 90 120 150 70 110 40 40 90 110 80 
			 Lambeth 60 130 180 80 30 90 70 70 110 60 
			 Lewisham 80 170 210 120 110 140 40 150 90 80 
			 Merton 70 120 140 90 20 60 40 90 90 100 
			 Newham 30 140 280 110 100 100 40 100 20 50 
			 Redbridge 80 260 220 80 140 60 80 130 100 100 
			 Richmond upon Thames 110 170 160 20 60 100 70 100 70 60 
			 Southwark 100 80 210 110 60 40 50 80 50 80 
			 Sutton 90 150 150 110 80 10 50 120 130 60 
			 Tower Hamlets 50 140 110 80 50 30 10 80 80 60 
			 Waltham Forest 70 170 190 120 60 100 30 170 70 50 
			 Wandsworth 120 140 180 90 110 80 60 150 140 110 
			 Westminster 50 100 130 100 70 40 60 30 40 30 
			
			  Government office regions   
			 North East 1,550 2,370 2,680 1,550 1,530 1,260 1,190 1,460 1,080 1,510 
			 North West 2,770 7,350 6.090 3,730 4,040 3,180 3,560 4,440 3,000 3,430 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 2,460 4,760 4,620 2,570 2.840 2,230 2,710 3,250 2,070 2,330 
			 East Midlands 2,000 4,090 3,820 2,200 2,300 2,050 1,990 2,460 1,990 2,010 
			 West Midlands 2,460 4,860 5,290 2,590 2,670 2,610 2,560 3,590 2,710 2,670 
			 East of England 2,540 4,800 4,880 2,430 2,790 2,480 2,280 3,290 2,810 2,570 
			 London 2,520 4,940 5,870 2,780 2,750 2,810 2,040 3,440 2,560 2,070 
			 South East 3,210 6,710 7,680 3,150 4,140 3,670 3,310 4,590 4,680 3,030 
			 South West 2,240 4,130 4,730 2,270 2,740 2,360 2,290 3,220 2,840 2,780 
			 (1) The estimated number of excess winter deaths is the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July). Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. (2) Data are based on deaths occurring in each month.

Departmental Marketing

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many complaints about advertisements sponsored or funded by his Department were made to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in each year from 1997 to 2008; and how many of these were upheld by the ASA in each year.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally, but a search of available records has not found any complaints about advertisements sponsored or funded by the Cabinet Office. The Advertising Standards Agency maintain a register covering the last five years of all the complaints made to them, with their decisions, on their website at:
	http://www.asa.org.uk/asa/

Departmental Publications

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the date of publication was of the most recent edition of the Central Office of Information White Book.

Liam Byrne: The White Book was last published in September 2008. Copies are available in the Library.

Departmental Video Recordings

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to the answer of 13 October 2008,  Official Report, column 949W, on departmental recordings, if he will list the names of external film production companies that have been used by the Central Office of Information in the last 12 months.

Liam Byrne: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Central Office of Information. I have asked the chief executive to reply.
	 Letter from Alan Bishop, dated December 2008:
	As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 13 October 2008, Official Report, column 949W, on departmental recordings, if he will list the names of external film production companies that have been used by the Central Office of Information in the last 12 months. (241898)
	These are listed below.
	Aardman Animations Limited
	Academy Productions
	Another Film Company
	Bermuda Shorts Limited
	Cheerful Scout
	Gorgeous Enterprises Limited
	Independent Films Limited
	Jacaranda Productions Limited
	Jack Morton Worldwide
	Mustard
	New Moon
	Nexus Productions Limited
	Partizan Lab
	Passion Pictures Limited
	Pretzel Films Limited
	Pukka Films Limited
	Rogue Films Limited
	RSA Films Limited
	Serious Pictures Film Company Limited
	Stink Limited
	The Edge Picture Company
	Tomboy Films Limited
	U-Dox Creative Agency
	Straker Films
	Defeatures
	Radley Yelder
	Feel Films
	Underdog Media
	Insight News Television Limited
	Story House Films Limited
	Moon Films Limited
	Spank Corporation
	Sledge Limited
	Moxie Pictures
	Th1ng
	Tandem Films
	Shine Limited
	Wonky Films
	Knucklehead Limited
	Addiction
	Duke
	Plunge Films

Disclosure of Information

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will formally request the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden to return to the authorities all material which he has received as a result of unauthorised disclosure to him and which he considers so sensitive it cannot be put into the public domain; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 18 December 2008
	The appropriate action to take for anyone in receipt of an unauthorised disclosure is to return the material to the relevant Government Department.

Government Communication Network

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

Liam Byrne: The Cabinet Office does not classify staff as Government communicators. Its central communications unit currently includes 28.4 full-time equivalent professional communications staff, with a further eight employed in cross-Government roles in the Government Communication team.
	Any civil servant who works in a communication role can register online as an individual to gain access to GCN and the resources it provides through its website. The Cabinet Office recruits to communication roles against GCN professional competences; it also encourages staff in these roles register for GCN to build their professional skills and experience and so help to improve Government communication.

Government Departments: Public Relations

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what representations the Central Office of Information has received calling for the establishment of an approved list of public affairs agency suppliers.

Liam Byrne: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Central Office of Information. I have asked the chief executive to reply.
	 Letter from Alan Bishop :
	As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what representations the COI has received calling for the establishment of an approved list of public affairs agency suppliers. (241757)
	Neither I nor our Director of News and PR have received representations for the establishment of such a list.

Health and Safety Executive: Advertising

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the  (a) name and  (b) cost was of each advertising campaign carried out by the Central Office of Information in relation to the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Central Office of Information. I have asked the chief executive to reply.
	 Letter from Alan Bishop, dated December 2008:
	.
	The information that you have requested is given in the table below.
	
		
			  HSE advertising expenditure 
			  Campaign title  Total () 
			  2003-04( 1)   
			   
			  2004-05  
			 HSE Classified/Recruitment Advertising 2004-05 189,017 
			 HSE Pitch Costs 2004-05  
			 HSE Workplace Transport 2004-05 57,727 
			 HSE Business Case Campaign 2004-05 967,054 
			  1,213,798 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 HSE Workplace Health Direct 2005-06 137,484 
			 HSE MSD CampaignBad Backs 2005-06 1,390,660 
			 HSE Classified Advertising 265,025 
			 Slips and Trips Campaign 2005-06 1,455,545 
			 HSE Agriculture Safety Ads 2005-06 5,675 
			 HSE Classified/Recruitment Advertising (Barkers) 2005-06 7,142 
			 HSE Miscellaneous 2005-06 11,616 
			 HSE Waste and Recycling 2005-06 3,798 
			 HSE Better Business SME Campaign 2005-06 1,097,461 
			 HSE Noise Campaign 2005-06 47,697 
			 Workplace Transport Police 2005-06 110,671 
			 HSE Secondment Placement 2005-06  
			 HSE Telegraph Business Club 2005-06 33,201 
			  4,565,975 
			   
			  2006-07  
			 HSE Backs 2006-07 1,597,220 
			 Falls from Height 2006-07 813,298 
			 HSE Dermatitis Campaign 2006-07 39,020 
			 HSE Workplace Health 2006-07 90,414 
			 HSE Asbestos 2006-07 48,426 
			 HSE Recruitment Advertising 2006-07 78,715 
			 HSE Telegraph Business Club 2006-07 56,843 
			 Workplace Transport 2006-07 9,424 
			 Respiratory Disease Briefs 2006-07  
			 HSE Miscellaneous 2006-07 5,871 
			 Overarching Campaign Strategy for HSE 2006-07  
			  2,739,230 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Workplace Transport 2007-08 104,166 
			 HSE Miscellaneous 2007-08 17,169 
			 HSE Overarching Campaign Strategy 2007-08  
			 HSE Dermatitis 2007-08  
			 HSE Asbestos Campaign 2007-08 217,966 
			 Slips Trips and Falls 2007-08 1,443,844 
			 Workplace Health Connect 2007-08  
			 Workboost Wales 2007-08  
			  1,783,145 
			 (1) No advertising activity during 2003-04.

Liam Byrne

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the document Working with Liam Byrne produced for civil servants in the Cabinet Office.

Liam Byrne: It is not normal practice to publish internal working documents. But I am always happy to update the right hon. Member personally on matters of significance.

Life Expectancy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the life expectancy of  (a) men and  (b) women in (i) North Yorkshire and (ii) England was (A) in 1987, (B) in 1992, (C) in 1997, (D) in 2001, (E) in 2005 and (F) at the latest date for which information is available.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated January 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the life expectancy of (a) men and (b) women in (i) North Yorkshire and (ii) England was (A) in 1987, (B) in 1992, (C) in 1997, (D) in 2001, (E) in 2005 and (F) at the latest date for which information is available. (247601)
	Life expectancy figures are calculated as three year rolling averages and are available from 1991-93 onwards for local authorities and government office regions. Figures for counties are only available for 2005-07, therefore figures have also been given for Yorkshire and The Humber government office region.
	The table below provides the period life expectancy at birth for (a) men and (b) women in (i) North Yorkshire county, (ii) Yorkshire and The Humber and (iii) England for 1991-93, 1996-98, 2000-02, 2004-06 and 2005-07 (the latest figures available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Period life expectancy at birth( 1) , North Yorkshire county, Yorkshire and The Humber government office region and England( 2) ,1991-93, 1996-98,2000-02, 2004-06 and 2005-07( 3) 
			  Years of life 
			   Sex  North Yorkshire  Yorkshire and the Humber  England 
			 1991-93 Male  73 74 
			  Female  79 79 
			  
			 1996-98 Male  74 75 
			  Female  79 80 
			  
			 2000-02 Male  75 76 
			  Female  80 81 
			  
			 2004-06 Male  77 77 
			  Female  81 82 
			 2005-07 Male 79 77 78 
			  Female 83 81 82 
			 (1) Period life expectancy at birth is an estimate of the average number of years a newborn baby would survive if he or she experienced the area's age-specific mortality rates for that time period throughout his or her life. The figure reflects mortality among those living in the area in each time period, rather than mortality among those born in each area. It is not therefore the number of years a baby born in the area in each time period could actually expect to live, both because the death rates of the area are likely to change in the future and because many of those born in the area will live elsewhere for at least some part of their lives. (2) Using boundaries as of 2008 for all the years shown. (3) Three year rolling averages, based on deaths registered in each year and mid-year population estimates.

National Income

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the change in UK gross domestic product was in each year since 1997-98.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated January 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question requesting details of the change in gross domestic product in each year since 1997-98. (247605)
	Table A provides the latest GDP figures in real terms together with the annual growth rates for each calendar year since 1997. Data for 2008 will be first available with the publication of the Preliminary Estimate of GDP for the Fourth Quarter on 23 January.
	
		
			  Table A 
			   GDP in real terms  (  million )  (ABMI)  Percentage growth rate (I HYP) 
			 1997 951,208 3.3 
			 1998 985,506 3.6 
			 1999 1,019,735 3.5 
			 2000 1,059,658 3.9 
			 2001 1,085,745 2.5 
			 2002 1,108,508 2.1 
			 2003 1,139,746 2.8 
			 2004 1,171,178 2.8 
			 2005 1,195,276 2.1 
			 2006 1,229,196 2.8 
			 2007 1,266,680 3.0 
			  Note: These figures are based on data published on 23 December 2008.

Non-profit Making Associations

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment his Department has made of the effects on the third sector of his Department's strategy for commissioning public services.

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effects on the third sector of his Department's strategies for commissioning public services.

Kevin Brennan: Following the Public Administration Select Committee's report on 'Public Services and the Third Sector: Rhetoric and Reality', the Government Response was published on 11 December 2008. This included an assessment of how far the Government's vision of the state and the third sector working together at all levels and as equal partners can bring about real change in our public services. The Government welcomed the Committee's recognition of the capacity of the sector to deliver excellent and innovative public services but also acknowledged the need to build a robust evidence base that supports the case for more public and private investment in the third sector as a delivery partner. This is why, through the Office of the Third Sector, 5 million has been invested in a new third sector research centre, led by Birmingham university, which will collect and disseminate evidence about the true social and economic value of the sector to society. Government are also investing in a four-year National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning, which is providing training for up to 3,000 commissioners of public services to ensure they get the best out of working with the third sector.

Pensioners

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) men and  (b) women he estimates will reach state pension age between the end of the first full week in December 2008 and the end of (i) January and (ii) February 2009.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated January 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many (a) men and (b) women it is estimated will reach state pension age between the end of the first full week in December 2008 and the end of (i) January and (ii) February 2009 (246585).
	The numbers of men and women projected to reach state pension age in Great Britain are:
	8 December 2008 to 31 January 2009 inclusive: 46,000 males and 56,000 females
	8 December 2008 to 28 February 2009 inclusive: 69,000 males and 85,000 females
	These estimates are derived from the 2006-based national population projections for Great Britain published in October 2007.

Strategic Communications Unit

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what were the running costs of the Downing Street  (a) strategic communications unit and  (b) digital communications unit in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The communications budget, which includes the costs associated with the Strategic Communications Unit and the Press Office, for the financial year 2007-08 was 2.46 million. For the cost of digital communications I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1482W.

Voluntary Work

Christopher Fraser: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent assessment he has made of the cost effectiveness of his Department's policies on support for volunteering.

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of his Department's policies designed to support volunteering.

Kevin Brennan: Over the 2008-11 CSR period the Office of the Third Sector will be investing 150 million in volunteering programmes. This supports a range of programmes including v, GoldStar, Volunteering for All and strategic funding to large national organisations.
	The monitoring of these projects consists of formal monitoring meetings with delivery partners, tracking of volunteering numbers through the Government's Citizenship Survey and, where appropriate, external programme evaluations.
	In relation to the specific programmes, recent assessments show that v has created 875,000 volunteering opportunities since its launch in 2006, the GoldStar programme has run a programme of activities to promote good practice in volunteering and Volunteering for All has successfully delivered a number of campaigns to promote volunteering to groups at risk of social exclusion.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the reason was for the time taken to reply to the hon. Member for Thurrock's question 231272 on assistant regional Ministers, tabled on 23 October 2008; and on what date a final draft answer was submitted to him for approval.

Liam Byrne: I have nothing further to add to the answer provided to my hon. Friend on 24 November 2008.

Young People

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many  (a) male and  (b) female 18-year- olds there were in each year since 2005; and how many of each there are expected to be in each year to 2015.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated January 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question regarding how many (a) male and (b) female 18-year-olds there were in each year since 2005 and what the Office for National Statistics projects the number of 18-year-olds to be in each year to 2015. (247129)
	The table below shows the United Kingdom population of males and females aged 18 for each year from 2005 to 2015. The figures up to and including 2007 are population estimates. The most recent national population projections, based on the population at the middle of 2006, have been used to provide the estimated population aged 18 from 2008 to 2015.
	
		
			  Population aged 18, United Kingdom, 2005 to 2015 
			  Thousand 
			   Population aged 18 
			   Males  Females 
			  Population estimates   
			 2005 405 385 
			 2006 417 392 
			 2007 412 388 
			
			  Population projections( 1)   
			 2008 417 392 
			 2009 423 396 
			 2010 415 391 
			 2011 403 377 
			 2012 398 372 
			 2013 389 364 
			 2014 386 362 
			 2015 389 365 
			 (1) 2006-based national population projections, ONS

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Aimhigher Programme

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which Aimhigher projects are focused primarily on primary school pupils; and what the cost of each was in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: Aimhigher projects are delivered through the 44 area-based Aimhigher partnerships of schools, colleges and universities. Partnerships submit plans to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), summarising the type of activities they intend to undertake. However, they are not required to detail their activities with primary schools separately and do not set out the costs of individual activities.
	From 2004 to 2007, HEFCE supported the 'Professor Fluffy' project based at the University of Liverpool. 274,000 was provided jointly from Aimhigher and HEFCE's own funds. The 'Professor Fluffy' project aims to raise awareness of higher education at an early age. In 2004, Professor Fluffy started a tour of primary schools in Greater Merseyside. In a project called 'Professor Fluffy's Greater Merseyside Primary Roadshow', year five and six pupils take part in a range of activities aimed at raising aspirations and introducing the vocabulary of higher education. The project reaches over 140 primary schools a year in Greater Merseyside of which 30 also participate in a visit into one of the colleges or universities. Professor Fluffy's resources are linked to the key stage 2 national curriculum and include the Professor Fluffy comic book, activity booklet and over 20 curriculum modules, e.g. five modern languages and a variety of STEM subjects. The children, and their parents, are also able to access Professor Fluffy's own interactive website which has had over a million pages viewed over the last couple of years. At the end of the programme each pupil receives a special Professor Fluffy certificate in a 'graduation ceremony' to celebrate their participation, together with their very own Professor Fluffy. In addition to the roadshow and university visits, a teachers' pack, offering five sessions, will be available shortly for purchase by schools. The Professor Fluffy concept and delivery models have been franchised to over 20 partners across the country. So far, Professor Fluffy has visited over 350 primary schools and talked to 30,000 primary pupils and their parents.

Higher Education: Finance

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when he expects the higher education funding review to commence; when he expects the results of the review to be published; and what schedule has been set for the implementation of the review's recommendations.

David Lammy: The assurances we have previously given this House made clear that there would be an independent review of tuition fees, reporting to the House, once we had evidence on the first three years of the variable fee regime. The first three years of operation will not be concluded until this autumn. The timing and duration of the review and the publication of its results will enable us to fulfil the commitment given to the House in 2004 that there will be no vote before 2010 at the earliest, and to enable the review to present Parliament with an evidence-based report covering the full range of the issues it has been asked to consider through its terms of reference. It will then be for the House to consider how to respond to any recommendations.

Part-time Education

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of changes in the numbers of part-time students from higher education courses over the period of the next higher education funding review.

David Lammy: Numbers of part-time students in England have increased by over 200,000 to some 770,000 in 2006-07 since 1997-98 and we will continue to support increased HE participation in future. Our grant letters to HEFCE set out the expected growth in core fundable students (in full-time equivalent terms); however, no distinction between full-time and part-time students is made. Our plans allow for an increase of 30,000 full-time equivalent places by 2009-10 compared with 2007-08.

PRIME MINISTER

Intelligence Services

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of the current economic situation on the budgets of the security services.

Gordon Brown: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Darling) set out the additional provisions for the single intelligence account for 2008-11 in the 2007 pre-Budget report and comprehensive spending review: Meeting the Aspirations of the British People (Cm 7227). Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Opposition

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what preparations are in hand to provide briefing by civil servants to the Official Opposition and the Liberal Democrats in advance of the next general election.

Gordon Brown: I have written to Opposition parties on this matter.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Attorney-General for Northern Ireland: Public Appointments

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 267-8W, on the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland: public appointments, what consultations his Department had in respect of arrangements for the appointment of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: The appointment of the Attorney-General for Northern Ireland is a matter for the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

Departmental Drinking Water

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 881W, on departmental hospitality, which companies provided the bottled water.

Shaun Woodward: The companies that provided bottled water were as follows:
	Antrim Hills Spring Water,
	Ballygowan;
	Classic Mineral Water.

Departmental Telephone Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many telephone numbers for which callers are charged at the rate applicable to 0845 numbers are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies for public access to services.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office and its executive agencies use two telephone numbers for which callers are charged at the rate applicable to 0845 numbers. One number is used by the Department and one by an executive agency.

Inquiries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which legal firms have worked on the Billy Wright inquiry; for what periods; who each firm represented; how much his Department has spent on legal fees for the inquiry; how much has been spent in the inquiry in each month since it was established; and when the inquiry is expect to report.

Shaun Woodward: I am advised by the Billy Wright inquiry that the following legal firms have worked on it:
	
		
			  Legal firm  Period of engagement  Representation 
			 Cleaver Fulton and Rankin Solicitors January 2006 Legal services to the inquiry 
			 John McAtamney and Co April 2008(1) David Wright 
			 Crown Solicitors Office February 2005(1) A number of prison governors and officers 
			 Treasury Solicitors April 2007(1) Northern Ireland Prison Service, and the Northern Ireland Office 
			 McCartan Turkington Breen Solicitors March 2007(1) Police Service of Northern Ireland 
			 Diamond Heron Solicitors January 2005(1) Prison Officers Association 
			 (1) To date. 
		
	
	In accordance with the Billy Wright inquiry's published funding protocol, witnesses to the inquiry are also entitled to reasonable legal advice at the inquiry's expense and a number of firms have represented witnesses:
	
		
			  Legal firm  Period of engagement 
			 Bircham Dyson Bell Solicitors September 2008 
			 Campbell and Caher Solicitors March 2006 
			 Edwards and Co Solicitors December 2006 
			 Ferguson and Co Solicitors February 2007 
			 Hart Coyle Collins Solicitors August 2007 
			 John J Rice and Company April 2007 
			 McBurney and Company Solicitors April 2008 
			 Madden and Finucane Solicitors September 2007 
			 O'Rorke McDonald and Tweed Solicitors March 2006 
			 Reid Black and Co Solicitors July 2005 
			 Trevor Smyth and Co Solicitors August 2006 to April 2007 
			 Corker Binning Solicitors November 2007 
			 Donnelly and Wall Solicitors November 2008 
			 McConnell Kelly and Co Solicitors June 2005 
			 Morrison and Broderick Solicitors September 2006 
			 S.C. Connolly Solicitors November 2007 
		
	
	Some of these firms have represented only anonymous witnesses, some have represented only witnesses seen in public, and some have represented both. For security (to preserve anonymity) and public interest reasons (not all the witnesses of either type have yet been called to give evidence) it is not felt appropriate to release even the names of the 'public' witnesses before the end of the hearings. Once witnesses are called to give oral evidence the name of their legal representative is published on the inquiry website.
	The total cost incurred by the Billy Wright inquiry for legal fees is 6.89 million.
	The monthly spend of the inquiry is as follows:
	
		
			  Total resource 
			  000 
			   2008-09  2007-08  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05 
			 April -222 421 191 27  
			 May 1,304 416 145 114  
			 June 776 955 292 239  
			 July 843 1,608 185 105  
			 August 770 428 232 120  
			 September 265 1,011 254 167  
			 October 811 -264 265 209  
			 November 1,138 751 314 151  
			 December  566 332 271  
			 January  491 442 168  
			 February  777 483 40 1 
			 March  1,444 1,303 651 58 
			 Total 5,685 8,604 4,438 2,262 59 
		
	
	
		
			  Total capital 
			  000 
			   2008-09  2007-08  2006-07  2005-06 
			 April 0 0 0 0 
			 May 0 0 0 29 
			 June 0 0 0 1 
			 July 0 122 0 2 
			 August 0 0 0 -2 
			 September 0 0 0 0 
			 October 0 -122 0 0 
			 November 0 0 0 3 
			 December  0 0 -3 
			 January  0 0 2 
			 February  0 0 0 
			 March  266 0 5 
			 Total 0 266 0 37 
		
	
	The inquiry is expected to report by March 2010.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Advertising: Complaints

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many complaints were made to the Advertising Standards Authority regarding adverts sponsored or funded by his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997; and how many were upheld.

Patrick McFadden: Central records indicate that no complaints have been made to the Advertising Standards Authority regarding advertisements sponsored or funded by the Department or its predecessor, the DTI, in any year since 1997.

Companies: Mentally Ill

Paul Rowen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people have been removed from company boards on mental health grounds in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 9 December 2008
	 There is no statistical breakdown available for the reasons why directors ceased to hold their appointments as there is no requirement for a company to give a reason for a director ceasing to hold appointment when, as required, it notifies the registrar of any change in its directors.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many  (a) letters and  (b) e-mails received by his Department had not been responded to as at 15 December 2008.

Patrick McFadden: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/peers correspondence. Information relating to 2008 will be published as soon as it has been collated. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-74WS. Reports for earlier years are available in the Libraries of the House.
	In respect of e-mails, this Department will not be able to provide the information without incurring disproportionate cost. To do so would require gathering information from every official in the Department.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much has been spent on  (a) departmental Christmas parties and  (b) staff entertainment in the last three years.

Patrick McFadden: No official funds have been used for Christmas parties in the last three years. The Department does not separately record amounts spent on staff entertainment and figures could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make it his policy to ensure that temporary and permanent employees at the same grade and at an hourly rate by his Department are paid at the same rate.

Patrick McFadden: Staff employed by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) on short-term contracts are paid under the same pay systems that apply to permanent staff in BERR. They are salaried workers and are not paid at an hourly rate.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much has been allocated for bonuses for staff within his Department in 2008-09.

Patrick McFadden: The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform awards non-consolidated bonuses in two formats:
	1. Special bonuses to recognise performance in particularly demanding tasks or situations. Staff in receipt of a special bonus may also receive an annual performance award.
	2. Annual performance awards paid to highly successful performers as part of the annual pay award.
	Based on the information available the total amount spent on annual performance awards in 2008-09 is 2,240,592. Information on special bonuses paid in 2008-09 is not yet available, however the maximum expenditure is 0.4 per cent. of pay bill, in 2007-08 this was approximately 693,386.
	This figure includes staff who were transferred from BERR to DECC as part of the October 2008 Machinery of Government changes as these staff received a BERR pay award in 2008.

Departmental Sick Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much sick pay to staff in his Department cost in the last five years for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: The estimated total cost of sickness absence in the Department in each year from 2003 to 2007 is as follows:
	
		
			   Average cost( 1)  () 
			 2008 (to November 2008) 1,650,240 
			 2007 1,947,436 
			 2006 2,213,308 
			 2005 2,698,448 
			 2004 3,375,352 
			 (1) Cost calculated for all years using the full-time equivalent figure for the Department in each of the last five years and the figure of 764 average cost per person sick (all staff), used in the Analysis of Sickness absence in the civil service 2007 report published on the public civil service website at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp along with data for other Departments and agencies.

Japan: Trade

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government are taking to promote trade between Japan and the United Kingdom.

Gareth Thomas: Through UK Trade and Investment, the Government support initiatives and provide services across a range of sectors for UK companies seeking to do business in Japan, with a clear focus on activity that delivers maximum added value for business and the UK economy.

Royal Mail

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to meet the Select Committee on Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to discuss the Hooper report.

Patrick McFadden: I am happy to meet the Select Committee to discuss the Hooper Report when invited to do so.
	My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State appeared before the Select Committee for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) today.

Scandinavia: Trade

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the monetary value of trade between the UK and  (a) Sweden and  (b) Denmark was in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: The data requested are shown in the following tables:
	
		
			   million 
			   UK exports of goods to Sweden  UK exports of services to Sweden  UK imports of goods from Sweden  UK imports of services from Sweden 
			 2003 3,823 1,700 4,568 1,133 
			 2004 4,356 1,701 5,118 1,148 
			 2005 4,588 1,755 5,463 1,318 
			 2006 5,246 1,964 5,985 1,357 
			 2007 4,899 2,323 5,256 1,223 
		
	
	
		
			   million 
			   UK exports of goods to Denmark  UK exports of services to Denmark  UK imports of goods from Denmark  UK imports of services from Denmark 
			 2003 2,180 1,528 3,399 783 
			 2004 2,042 1,605 3,357 844 
			 2005 2,314 1,541 4,393 927 
			 2006 3,715 2,313 6,439 1,016 
			 2007 2,180 2,371 3,430 996 
			  Source: UK Balance of Payments Pink Book, 2008 edition

Woolworths

Jamie Reed: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what options his Department has to assist Woolworths in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The company is in administration and the administrators are in charge. We have been closely following the administrators' efforts to find purchasers for Woolworths' stores and its wholesale business though neither Woolworths' management nor its administrators have requested any Government assistance.
	The Insolvency Service is doing all it can to get payments to those employees made redundant as soon as possible.

Yorkshire Forward

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the benefit to the local economy arising from the operation of Yorkshire Forward since 2006.

Patrick McFadden: The Government have commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct an independent evaluation of the economic impact of RDAs. Their report has just been completed and I will be presenting it to the House shortly.

TREASURY

Child Tax Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families claimed children's tax credit for 2002-03; if he will estimate the number of families who were eligible for the credit in that year; what the last date is on which claims for that year may be submitted; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 14 July 2005,  Official Report, column 1173W, and to paragraph 5.11 of Budget 2002, which can be found on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/Budget 2002.pdf
	Claims for children's tax credit for tax year 2002-03 must be submitted to HMRC by 31 January 2009.

Children: Day Care

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to his Statement of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 489-504, on the Pre-Budget Report, what form the proposed trials of systems to make child care payments more closely reflect child care costs are to take; where and when they are planned to take place; and when the results will be made available.

Stephen Timms: New Opportunities, published on 13 January 2009, provides further details on the pilots to make child care payments that more closely reflect child care costs at the time they are incurred. The document also announces the forthcoming publication of a refresh to the 10-year child care strategy, which will contain additional information on the pilots.

Cox Review

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the  (a) total and  (b) staffing cost of the Cox review of creativity in business was.

Angela Eagle: The cost of the design, printing and distribution of the report of the Cox review of creativity in business, excluding internal staffing costs, was 34,420. half of which was met by the then Department of Trade and Industry. Any Treasury internal staffing costs associated with the review formed part of general departmental staff costs and are not therefore available separately.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the effect on the economy of the changes to business rates in ports made by the Valuation Office Agency.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	It is not the Government's practice to make any specific assessment of the overall effect on the British economy of particular tax bills issued in the normal course of business under existing legislation. The legislation under which the VOA is operating is designed to ensure fairness in the tax system, so that businesses using similar properties face equivalent tax liabilities regardless of their location.

Private Finance Initiative

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the total capital value of all  (a) operational and  (b) non-operational signed private finance initiative projects is for (i) Government Departments, (ii) local authorities, (iii) the NHS, (iv) police authorities and (v) Government agencies;
	(2)  how many signed private finance initiative projects have become operational since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The full list of all signed PFI projects can be found on HM Treasury's website at:
	www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_pfi_stats.htm.
	For each PFI project, this list details the project name, the capital value, the constituency, the procuring authority and the annual unitary charge that needs to be paid over the life of the contract.

Welfare Tax Credits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  in how many and what proportion of disputed tax credit cases the liabilities were  (a) wholly and  (b) partly written off in each month since April 2003;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of tax credit claims were disputed in each month between April 2003 and April 2008.

Stephen Timms: The Tax Credit Office does not separately record whether an overpayment is written off in part or in full.
	For information up to and including 2007-08, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 13 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 1010-11W.
	The corresponding information for October and November 2008 is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Households 
			  2008  Number of newly disputed overpayments 
			 October 20,900 
			 November 15,700

WORK AND PENSIONS

Airwave Service

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Airwave handsets issued to his Department's Fraud Investigation Service have been lost in each year since their introduction; and how many handsets issued to the service have been disabled by the service provider through  (a) loss,  (b) breakage and  (c) other reasons in each such year.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Airwave service went live in the DWP in August 2007, and in the 2007-08 year, one radio was lost and disabled. Since then no radios have been lost.
	 (b) There have been no breakages to radio terminals that have necessitated a terminal to be disabled.
	 (c) In one or two instances the radios fitted to surveillance vehicles can be difficult to remove, so when these vehicles are in for routine mechanical servicing the radios are temporarily disabled, as a precaution, for the duration of the service.

Cold Weather Payments: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households in  (a) Hemel Hempstead,  (b) Hertfordshire and  (c) the UK which will be eligible for cold weather payments if the temperature falls below the level which triggers payment of the allowance in 2008-09.

Kitty Ussher: The temperature criterion for cold weather payments is that the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0 C or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the customer's postcode.
	The estimated number of benefit units(1) eligible for cold weather payments is not available by local authority, parliamentary constituency or county, but only by weather station.
	The estimated number of benefit units(1) eligible for cold weather payments in Great Britain in 2008-09 if the temperature criterion is met is 4.1 million.
	(1)( )Cold weather payments are made to benefit units rather than households. For example, a disabled adult on income support living with his mother on pension credit counts as two benefit units but would be thought of as one household.
	 Notes:
	1. The estimate is the one most recently available, but it is only an estimate.
	2. Estimates of the number of benefit units eligible for cold weather payments are not available by parliamentary constituency or county.
	3. Information regarding cold weather payments in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland office. estimates of the number of households eligible for cold weather payments are not available.
	 Source:
	Analysis of a scan of benefit recipients eligible for cold weather payments taken at the end of October 2008.

Housing Benefit

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average processing time was for  (a) new housing benefit claims and  (b) reassessed housing benefit claims (i) in total and (ii) in each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Housing Benefit

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time was for a housing benefit claim to be suspended pending a reassessment following notification of a change of circumstances  (a) in total and  (b) in each of the smallest geographical areas for which figures are available in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The information is not available.

Income Support: Ex-servicemen

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2008,  Official Report, column 616W, on income support: ex-servicemen, what proportion of the weekly payments of compensation schemes are disregarded; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 12 January 2009
	Normally for the income-related benefits, all income is taken into account, with disregards available only in specific circumstances.
	Payments to ex-servicemen attract a disregard of 10 when calculating entitlement to income support and the other income-related benefits.
	This disregard, which gives war pensioners an advantage over other disabled groups, is paid in recognition of the special nature of these payments.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many individuals receiving jobseeker's allowance were  (a) UK born and  (b) non-UK born, broken down by (i) local authority area and (ii) Government Office region, in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many individuals receiving housing benefit were  (a) UK born and  (b) non-UK born, broken down by (i) local authority area and (ii) Government Office region, in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The information is not available; benefit systems do not record place of birth.

Local Housing Allowance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of local housing allowance payments have been made  (a) directly to tenants,  (b) directly to landlords on grounds of the tenant's vulnerability and  (c) directly to landlords on the grounds that the tenant has rent arrears in excess of eight weeks, since April 2008.

Kitty Ussher: This information is not available.

Local Housing Allowance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to monitor the effectiveness of the implementation of provisions within local housing allowance regulations for local authorities to make direct payment to landlords in cases where claimants are vulnerable.

Kitty Ussher: The Department is undertaking a review of local housing allowance over the two years from the commencement of its national roll-out in April 2008. As part of this review, we will be monitoring the effectiveness of direct payments to landlords in cases of vulnerable claimant.

Means Tested Benefits

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which benefits provided by his Department take account of assumed interest on saving in calculating entitlements; how frequently assumed interest rates are reviewed; when the last such review took place; what the assumed rate of interest is; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: Tariff income rules apply to all the income-related benefits for which the Department is responsible: income support; income-based jobseekers allowance; income-based employment and support allowance; pension credit; housing benefit; and council tax benefit.
	For the information about tariff income, I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Jim Cousins) on 15 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 418-19W.

National Workload Forecasts

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what  (a) methodology and  (b) assumptions Jobcentre Plus uses in calculating its national workload forecasts; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how often Jobcentre Plus updates its national workload forecasts; and what period is covered by each forecast.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 12 January 2009
	 : A common methodology is used to produce the projections of workloads across the benefits, based on the estimates of caseload and new awards of benefit required to forecast benefit expenditure, and published at the pre-Budget report and the Budget. The caseload and new claims are projected using the most appropriate demographic, benefit payment, operational and policy information, and project forward Jobcentre Plus management information. The projections are also adjusted to take into account any seasonality in volumes.
	The underlying assumptions vary according to the benefit, but are based on projecting forward recent trends, taking into account changes in relevant factors that are expected in the future. The number of assumptions underlying the projection is very large and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Jobcentre Plus updates its national workload projection once a quarter, on 31 January, 30 April, 31 July and 31 October. Each projection covers the period up to 2020-21.

Post Office Card Account

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) invitation to tender,  (b) specifications and  (c) descriptive documents relating to the Post Office card account tender process.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 January 2009
	As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced to the House in his statement of 13 November 2008, the procurement exercise for a successor to the Post Office card account has been halted and instead another contract will be awarded to Post Office Ltd.
	The tender process never reached a final conclusion. We have already published the notice that appeared in the  Official Journal of the European Union (already in the Library) which set out what we intended to procure.
	We do not intend to publish any other related documents.

Post Office Card Account

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the change in revenue which the Post Office will experience as a result of the award of the Post Office card account contract in each year of the contract period.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 12 January 2009
	The Government are in the process of agreeing the detailed terms of a new contract with Post Office Ltd. The amounts to be paid to Post Office Ltd. will depend on a number of factors including customer behaviour. The financial details of the contract will remain commercially confidential.

Poverty: Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in absolute low income in each region in each of the last 10 years.

Kitty Ussher: Specific information regarding low income for the United Kingdom is available in Households Below Average Income 1994/95-2006/07.
	Information on the numbers of children below 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median income by region is set out in the following table. Three survey year averages are given for each of the regions as robust single year estimates cannot be produced because of volatility in estimates.
	
		
			  Number of children living in households with less th an 60 per cent of absolute 1998- 99 median household income held constant in real terms, by region or country: 1996 - 97-1998 - 99 to 2004 - 05-2006 - 07 
			  Million 
			   1996-97 to 1998-99  1997-98 to 1999-2000  1998-99 to 2000-01  1999-2000 to 2001-02  2000-01 to 2002-03  2001-02 to 2003-04  2002-03 to 2004-05  2003-04 to 2005-06  2004-05 to 2006-07 
			  Before housing costs  
			 North East 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 North West 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 East Midlands 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 West Midlands 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 East of England 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 London 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 
			 South East 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 
			 South West 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 England 3.0 2.8 2.4 2.1 1.7 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.4 
			 Wales 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Scotland 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 
			 Northern Ireland (1) (1) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			   
			  After housing costs  
			 North East 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 North West 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 East Midlands 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 West Midlands 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 East of England 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 London 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 
			 South East 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 
			 South West 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 
			 England 3.8 3.6 3.4 3.0 2.6 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.1 
			 Wales 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 Scotland 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 
			 Northern Ireland (1) (1) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 (1) Not available.   Notes:  1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income data.  2. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response.  3. The reference period for Households Below Average Income figures is single financial years. Three sample years have been combined as regional single year estimates are subject to volatility.  4. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or equivalised) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. Median incomes are used as the national average in the publication.  5. The figures are based on OECD equalisation factors.  6. Figures have been presented on both a Before Housing Cost and After Housing Cost basis. For Before Housing Cost, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for After Housing Cost they are.  7. Data for Northern Ireland are only available from 1998-99 to 2000-01 onwards.  8. Numbers of children in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 children.   Source:  Households Below Average Income.

Poverty: Children

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children lived in  (a) absolute and  (b) relative poverty in each year between 1979 and 1997.

Kitty Ussher: The available information on the number of children living in relative and absolute low income since 1979 is given in tables 4.3tr and 4.4tr of the Households Below Average Income publication, published in June 2008, which is available in the Library.
	Information is not available for all years requested.

Social Fund

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Social Fund cases are currently being handled clerically; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The information requested is not available.

Social Fund

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent estimate he has made of the monetary value of all social fund loans awaiting recovery.

Kitty Ussher: Recoveries from social fund loans are recycled in the form of new loans. This means that, at the end of a financial year, the amount outstanding on all social fund loans is the total that the Government have invested in the social fund since its inception (apart from write-offs).
	At 31 March 2008, the amount outstanding on all social fund loans in Great Britain was 906 million.
	 Notes:
	1. social fund loans consist of Budgeting Loans and Crisis Loans.
	2. The figure includes amounts outstanding on loans which have been partially repaid.
	 Source:
	Social Fund Account 2007-08.

Social Fund: Funerals

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time taken to process a funeral payment was in the latest period for which information is available; what the target time is; and if he will make a statement.

Kitty Ussher: The information requested is given in the table.
	
		
			  Average length of time taken to process a funeral payment claim in Great Britain 
			  Time period  Achieved  (working days)  Standard (working days) 
			 November 2008 13.9 16 
			  Notes: 1. The processing time for an individual claim is measured in whole working days from the date of receipt of the claim to the date of the decision, inclusive. The minimum processing time recorded for an individual claim is one day, even if the claim is processed immediately. 2. The figures are based on claims processed in the relevant time period not on claims received in that time period.  Source:  DWP Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Allotments

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 236WH, on allotments, if she will make it her policy to extend the legislative protections which prevent allotments from being classified as previously developed land to residential gardens.

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable she has set for her Department's review of the practice known as garden grabbing; and whether she plans to appoint an independent panel to conduct the review.

John Healey: As I confirmed to the House during the passage of the Planning Act, on 24 November 2009,  Official Report, column 532, we are committed to a review of the evidence on the extent of development on back gardens to establish whether or not there is a clear and genuine problem. If there is a problem, we will consider action to remedy the situation, only if it would not undermine our objectives on housing.
	The terms of the review are due to be decided shortly, and we will publish the information.

Community Development

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's 2005 publication, Citizen Engagement and Public Services, what progress has been made on plans to introduce neighbourhood improvement districts.

John Healey: We have no plans to legislate for neighbourhood improvement districts at this time.

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many local authorities have set up the multi-agency tension monitoring groups referred to in the document, Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion, contingency planning and tension monitoring, published in May 2008; what the estimated running cost will be of such monitoring groups is; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many local authorities have submitted to their Government Office monthly tension monitoring reports referred to in paragraph 66 of the publication, Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion, contingency planning and tension monitoring, published in May 2008; and what use the Government make of these monthly reports;
	(3)  what safeguards exist to prevent people from misusing the tension monitoring groups referred to in the report, Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion, contingency planning and tension monitorin, published in May 2008, in relation to local grievances;
	(4)  what procedures will exist to enable individuals to appeal against inaccurate data about themselves gathered under the tension monitoring arrangements referred to in the report, Guidance for local authorities on community cohesion, contingency planning and tension monitoring, published in May 2008.

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 13 October 2008,  Official Report, column 983W, on local authorities: surveillance, which local authorities are now undertaking tension monitoring according to records held by her Department.

Sadiq Khan: Communities and Local Government does not hold a record of the number of local authorities who have set up multi-agency monitoring groups. Tension monitoring and contingency planning is about local partnership working and it is for local authorities to determine the systems they have in place and budget allocation needed to ensure they are able to effectively monitor tensions in their local areas.
	The number of local authorities that submit monthly tension monitoring reports can vary each month. Communities and Local Government is therefore unable to keep a consistent record of the number of local authorities who submit monthly tension monitoring returns. We use the monthly reports to identify challenges to cohesion and to identify possible trends; this information is used to inform our strategy for supporting local authorities.
	All contributors to the tension monitoring process are required to adhere to the principles of data collection set out in the Data Protection Act 1998. Each organisation that makes a contribution to tension monitoring should have local information sharing protocols in place.
	The personal details of individual details are not required for tension monitoring reports. If an individual was mentioned it would be in the context of any civil arrangements brought by the local authority or as a result of any criminal procedures through the police/courts.

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable her Department has set for council tax bills to be issued which include efficiency information.

John Healey: The first council tax demand notices served on a person in respect of the 2009-10 financial year will be required to include efficiency information. The Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rating (Demand Notices) (England) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/3264), which implement this requirement, were laid before Parliament on 22 December.

Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the specification for the Valuation Office Agency's council tax banding support tool.

John Healey: The specification of the Valuation Office Agency's council tax banding support tool is subject to commercial confidentiality. Accordingly, it will not be placed in the Library.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of the IT systems in  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies are fully accredited to the Government's security standards.

Sadiq Khan: All IT systems within CLG and its agencies that handle protectively marked data are subject to Government security standards and processes. All such systems are accredited to the appropriate Government security standard.

Departmental Surveys

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department's central media and communication unit spent on public surveys in each of the last three years.

Sadiq Khan: This information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Eco-Towns: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 3 November 2008,  Official Report, column 122W, on eco-towns, how much funding has been  (a) provided to date and  (b) committed for the future to the Town and Country Planning Association in relation to work on eco-towns; and for what purposes.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1266W. This set out details about the funding and work undertaken by the Town and Country Planning Association in relation to the eco-towns programme.

Fires

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many electrical fires have occurred in newly rewired or newly built properties in England in each of the last five years.  [Official Report, 27 February 2009, Vol. 488, c. 3MC.]

Sadiq Khan: Fire and rescue services in England do not collect information on property construction dates or a history of electrical maintenance in buildings when attending fires. Information on the number of building fires started by electrics is available in the following table. The latest statistics available are for 2007.
	
		
			  Fires started by electrical appliances/wiring in buildings, by source of ignition, England, 2003-07( 1) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  Country and source of ignition  
			 England 15,226 79,502 75,983 72,451 67,709 
			   
			 Cooking appliances 1,386 1,441 1,485 1,502 1,419 
			 Electric space heater 140 136 126 155 190 
			 Plugs 56 55 76 96 81 
			 Sockets and switches 308 316 362 371 387 
			 Leads to appliances 495 523 434 429 380 
			 Wire and cable 3,276 3,761 3,729 3,914 3,713 
			 Washing machine 1,075 1,028 992 910 815 
			 Dishwasher 443 427 370 351 381 
			 Refrigerator 628 687 633 559 565 
			 Tumble and spin driers 853 1,021 999 886 1,005 
			 Lighting 2,417 2,788 2,784 2,780 2,655 
			 Blanket or bedwarmer 252 181 165 133 111 
			 Television 425 524 455 419 438 
			 Iron 60 39 77 85 100 
			 AV, VDU or computer 246 271 243 247 232 
			 Other electrical 3,166 2,848 2,832 2,943 2,773 
			 (1) Provisional

Fires

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fires in England were due to  (a) electrical faults and  (b) faulty electric cables in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: The information requested is set out in the respective following tables. The latest statistics available are for 2007:
	
		
			  Cause of fires in buildings by source of ignition, England, 2003-07( 1) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007( 1) 
			  Source of ignition  
			 Faults in equipment or appliances  
			 England 7,595 7,850 7,825 7,740 7,677 
			   
			 Cooking appliances 382 388 413 392 445 
			 Electric space heater 20 11 28 43 56 
			 Plugs 8 11 18 13 14 
			 Sockets and switches 54 101 94 106 108 
			 Leads to appliances 67 104 91 114 102 
			 Wire and cable 695 823 951 941 1,053 
			 Washing machine 943 907 847 804 692 
			 Dishwasher 401 339 310 311 337 
			 Refrigerator 529 569 518 464 472 
			 Tumble and spin driers 566 667 599 574 667 
			 Lighting 1,375 1,549 1,604 1,551 1,449 
			 Blanket or bedwarmer 173 131 104 102 70 
			 Television 369 451 389 379 388 
			 Iron 28 9 27 19 35 
			 AV, VDU or computer 192 167 189 193 173 
			 Other electrical 1,792 1,622 1,643 1,733 1,615 
			   
			  Faulty leads to appliances  
			 England 686 734 721 717 665 
			   
			 Cooking appliances 18 23 17 15 19 
			 Plugs 6 6 12 9 11 
			 Sockets and switches 12 17 26 19 18 
			 Leads to appliances 321 316 229 230 197 
			 Wire and cable 154 192 211 221 224 
			 Washing machine 11 12 18 16 14 
			 Dishwasher 5 5 1 4 4 
			 Refrigerator 10 21 15 20 12 
			 Tumble and spin driers 12 11 24 11 8 
			 Lighting 67 53 94 72 73 
			 Blanket or bedwarmer 7 8 10 6 5 
			 Television 8 7 7 8 6 
			 Iron 4 3 2 1 4 
			 AV, VDU or computer 8 8 7 10 13 
			 Other electrical 43 52 48 75 58 
			 (1) Provisional

Housing: Low Incomes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many responses she received to her Department's recent consultation on community land trusts; who the respondents were; and when she plans to bring forward proposals on  (a) regulation and  (b) funding of community land trusts.

Iain Wright: The consultation closed on 31 December 2008. The Government received 63 responses from a variety of stakeholders. We are currently analysing the responses and will be publishing a summary in the near future.

Improvement and Development Agency

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding the Improvement and Development Agency will receive from her Department in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) each of the following two years.

John Healey: The funding the Department will provide to the Improvement and the Development Agency under the revenue support grant is as follows:
	
		
			
			 2008-09 28,730,000 
			 2009-10 32,170,000 
			 2010-11 25,335,000 
			  Note: As proposed in the provisional local government finance settlement 2009-10.

Local Government: Data Protection

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate her Department has made of numbers of data losses by local authorities in the last 12 months.

Sadiq Khan: This is a matter for individual local authorities who, like all public sector organisations are required to comply with data protection legislation.
	The Local Government Association (LGA) have recently published Data Handling Guidelines for Local Government to complement the Central Government Data Handling Guidelines published by the Cabinet Office. We welcome the LGA guidelines and my officials were consulted on their publication. They are available online at:
	http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=9040133

Non-Domestic Rates: Licensed Premises

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 887-88W, on non-domestic rates: valuation, what steps  (a) her Department and  (b) the Valuation Office Agency has taken to raise awareness amongst the licensees of licensed premises of the change of policy on material changes of circumstances arising from the prohibition of smoking on licensed premises.

John Healey: On 11 November 2008 I personally wrote to the main trade associations representing public house operators and occupiers to help ensure that their members are clear about the change in approach to the rating assessments for pubs following the introduction of the smoking ban.
	The chief executive's office of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) was in direct contact concerning this issue with representatives of those same trade associations back in Junevery shortly after receipt of the legal advice which prompted the change of view on the validity of proposals to reduce rating assessments on account of the ban.
	The VOA was in regular contact with the various representatives and in particular the rating advisor to the British Beer and Pub Association throughout the summer.
	Staff in VOA local offices made every effort to contact those pubs who had made proposals earlier on, which were then treated as invalid, to tell them about the change of view. Various members of staff made presentations to local rating forums/trade groups in order to heighten awareness.
	An article has recently been published in the  Morning Advertiser (a widely read licensed trade magazine)primarily this provides answers to questions about the 2010 rating revaluation, but also the opportunity was taken to further clarify the smoking ban issue.

Non-Domestic Rates: Ports

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) internal and  (b) external legal opinions her Department has received on (i) changes to business rates for ports and (ii) associated new forms of valuation.

John Healey: The Secretary of State and Ministers take advice from all appropriate quarters on changes to legislation.

Place Surveys

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with what frequency local authorities are required to conduct place surveys, broken down by authority  (a) type and  (b) tier; and what estimate she has made of the average cost of a survey to a local authority.

John Healey: The place survey will be conducted once every two years in every local authority area in England, regardless of authority type or tier. Fieldwork for the 2008 place survey took place between September and December 2008. The next place survey is therefore due to take place in the autumn of 2010.
	Further information, including the timetable for the place survey, can be found at the Communities and Local Government website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/local government/placesurveymanual0809.
	The latest estimate of the cost to a local authority of conducting a single years place survey puts the figure at 15,000. This estimate takes into account a range of costs related to survey administration including staffing, printing and postage costs.

Planning Obligations

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of local authorities who have access to section 106 monies for the purpose of building social housing which have not yet spent this money; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Information on the number and value of agreed planning obligations for affordable housing by each local authority is not collected centrally. However, the Department for Communities and Local Government has produced research reports into the value of planning obligations in England for 2003-04 and 2005-06 based on a sample of authorities across the country. These reports are available on the Department's website. New research covering 2007-08 has been commissioned and will be published in the summer.
	The findings estimate the total value of affordable housing agreed using planning obligations has risen from around 1.2 billion in 2003-04 to 2 billion in 2005-06. Of this amount for 2005-06 211.5 million was estimated to be attributed to agreed direct payments and the remainder account for in-kind payments. The value of affordable housing delivered in 2005-06 was estimated at 1.4 billion. The estimated value of affordable housing delivered against agreements should be considered in context, as not all of the permissions to which the agreements are attached will be implemented and some others will be renegotiated.
	The Government are clear that local authorities should be open and accountable over the collection and use of s106 monies. We will explore whether more can be done to strengthen this local accountability through the Empowerment White Paper published in July 2008.

Regional Improvement Efficiency Partnerships

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff are employed by regional improvement efficiency partnerships (RIEPs) in each region; and how many staff in each RIEP work on cohesion-related issues.

John Healey: Information on staff employed by regional improvement efficiency partnerships (RIEPs) is not held centrally. The National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy devolves responsibility to RIEPs for identifying where resources should be spent and using their resources in the best way to obtain the help they may need to assist councils and support to drive LAA outcomes. This is in line with the 2006 Local Government White Paper's aim to devolve power to local areas and the communities they represent and so improve local service delivery and quality of life for local people.

Regional Improvement Efficiency Partnerships

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much each regional improvement efficiency partnership will spend on cohesion and integration issues in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) each of the following two years.

John Healey: Information on how much the regional improvement and efficiency partnerships will spend on cohesion and integration issues is not held centrally. The National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy devolves responsibility to RIEPs for identifying where resources should be spent and using their resources in the best way to obtain the help they may need to assist councils and support to drive LAA outcomes. This is in line with the 2006 Local Government White Paper's aim to devolve power to local areas and the communities they represent and so improve local service delivery and quality of life for local people.

Regional Planning and Development: South East

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people have responded to the south-east plan proposals  (a) via the website of the Government office for the south- east and  (b) via the official consultation form.

Sadiq Khan: The Government office for the south-east is still in the process of logging responses. The following is an approximation:
	 (a) People responding via the website: 146
	 (b) People responding via the official form: 3,673.
	In addition we have received 4,845 by other methods. All will be considered carefully.

Regional Planning and Development: South East

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many responses to the south-east plan have been received from addresses in the Guildford borough council area.

Sadiq Khan: We have so far identified over 4,800 responses from addresses in the Guildford borough council area. My officials need to do further work to confirm all final numbers.

Rented Housing: Greater London

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many private sector landlords in London own fewer than 10 properties; and what proportion housing stock in London such properties represent.

Iain Wright: Based on the Private Landlords Survey for 2006, indications of the number of small landlords have only been modelled at the national level. The limited sample size is insufficient to provide a robust basis for deriving model-based regional estimates.
	It is estimated that 72 per cent. of all private sector landlords in England in 2006 had portfolios of fewer than 10 properties.

Rented Housing: Private Sector

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the change has been in  (a) the size of the private rented sector and  (b) average mortgage costs since 2000.

Iain Wright: Based on the Survey of English Housing, average private rents in England (net of charges for services) are estimated to have risen from 92 per week in 2000-01 to 123 per week in 2006-07, an increase of 34 per cent.
	For households in England who were repaying a mortgage, average mortgage payments were 86 per week in 2000-01 and 131 per week in 2006-07an increase of 52 per cent.

Social Services: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken on the Communities and Local Government Committee's recommendation in its Second Report of Session 2006-07, on coastal towns, HC 351, that the Government need to take action to reduce the number of out-of-area placements and to ensure that when children are placed out of their local area there is improved communication between authorities.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Committee's report on coastal towns raised the important issue of the difficulties that can arise when looked-after children are placed away from their home area. We are determined that every looked-after child must be provided with the appropriate support by the local authorities responsible for their care.
	The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 recently received Royal Assent and section 8 sets out the considerations that local authorities must have regard to when they are considering making a placement for a looked-after child. This includes giving first consideration as far as is reasonably practicable to a placement being near a child's home and within the local authority's area. We will be issuing regulations and statutory guidance on section 8 which will provide more detail about the responsibilities of placing authorities. This will include that where children have to be placed at a distance from their home areas, the placement is the most suitable to meet their needs; and that relevant information about the child is shared with the local authority in the area where the child has been placed. Furthermore, section 16 of the Act reaffirms local authority responsibilities to ensure visits to looked-after children including those placed out of authority and a long way from their homes.

Urban Areas: Research

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 13 October 2008,  Official Report, column 990W, on urban areas: research, what account her Department has taken of proposals for polycentric mega-city regions in the formulation of its policy.

John Healey: The findings of the POLYNET Interreg 11B project have helped to further my Department's understanding of the dynamic and complex economic interrelationships between cities and city-regions, and their role in driving economic growth and prosperity. The study formed part of the evidence base that influenced reforms proposed in the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration.

Valuation Office

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the purpose of the Valuation Office Agency's notification change code CL26 is.

John Healey: Notification change codes are used to indicate the reason for a change made to a council tax valuation list entry. Code CL26 is used where the list entry is amended to correct an inaccuracy.

Waste Disposal

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 29 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1155W, on waste disposal, what  (a) advice and  (b) guidance has been issued to local authorities by (i) her Department and (ii) the Audit Commission on achieving efficiency savings by moving to alternate weekly collections of household waste.

John Healey: No advice or guidance has been issued to local authorities by the Department or the Audit Commission that specifically deals with the achievement of efficiency gains by moving to alternate weekly collections of household waste. The Department has issued general guidance to councils on the measurement of efficiencies; the current version of this guidance is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/local government/reportingvfmguide

HOME DEPARTMENT

Abdulmajid Hassan Ismail

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will cease proceedings to remove Abdulmajid Hassan Ismail (ref J1104674) to Sudan.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 16 December 200 8
	 Any request for information regarding individual cases is treated as being confidential by the UK Border Agency and is not normally disclosed to third parties. This is, of course, unless they are authorised representatives of the applicant. This is not a question of secrecy for its own sake, but simply a matter of protecting the privacy of the individual.

Alcohol Disorder Zones

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Government have spent on advertising costs and producing information material on alcohol disorder zones.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office has spent a total of 9,985 producing the Alcohol Disorder Zones: A short Guide to Setting up and Managing ADZs. This includes the editing and proof reading costs as well as the cost of printing hard copies of the guidance. No advertising costs have been incurred in respect of ADZs.
	No direct costs were incurred in respect of the original version of the ADZ guidance produced earlier in 2008. The original guidance was produced by a small number of officials who have worked on this policy area, in addition to other duties. It is not possible to quantify the cost or the time that has been spent working and consulting on this policy area.

Alcoholic Drinks: Antisocial Behaviour

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities have designated zones where street drinking is banned.

Alan Campbell: The Home Office has been informed that 244 local authorities in England and Wales have introduced at least one designated public place order (DPPO) with 654 DPPOs being implemented overall.
	A full list of the councils which have implemented the orders can be accessed at the following internet link:
	http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/alcoholorders/alcoholorders09.htm.

Alcoholic Drinks: Health Education

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people visited the Know Your Limits stand sponsored by her Department at the Clothes Show Live exhibition.

Jacqui Smith: The event team at the Clothes Show counted 12,145 visitors who engaged with the activities on the stand. As solely active participants in the tasks were counted, this figure does not include the spectators coming to view the stand, which we estimate to have been a significantly higher number.
	In addition to the stand, Clothes Show visitors were exposed to high impact Know Your Limits posters outside changing rooms, and messages inside the cubicles and mirrors in changing rooms throughout the exhibition. The total number of attendees to the event was estimated to be 190,000.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were proceeded against at magistrates courts for the offence of sale of alcohol to a drunken person under section 141 of the Licensing Act 2003 in 2007; how many were found guilty of the offence in all courts; and how many were issued with a penalty notice for disorder for the offence, broken down by police force area.

Jacqui Smith: Data showing the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty of all courts for the offence sale of alcohol to a drunken person under section 141 of the Licensing Act 2003, England and Wales broken down by police force area in 2007 can be viewed in table 1.
	The number of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) issued for the offence of sale of alcohol to a drunken person under section 141 of the Licensing Act 2003, England and Wales, also broken down by police force area in 2007, can be viewed in table 2.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for the offence of sale of alcohol to a drunken person under section 141 of the 2003 Licensing Act, England and Wales, broken down by police force area, 2007( 1,2,3) 
			  Force  Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 Cheshire 1  
			 Cleveland 1  
			 Devon and Cornwall 2  
			 Durham 1 1 
			 South Yorkshire 2  
			 England and Wales 7 1 
			 (1 )The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Only police force areas (PFAs) with data have been included in the tableif a PFA has not been included assume nil data.  Source:  E and A UnitOffice for Criminal Justice Reform 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) issued for sale of alcohol to a drunken person under section 141 of the 2003 Licensing Act, England and Wales, broken down by police force area, 2007( 1,2) 
			  Force  PNDs issued 
			 Avon and Somerset 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 2 
			 Cleveland 4 
			 Cumbria 1 
			 Derbyshire 1 
			 Devon and Cornwall 2 
			 Essex 1 
			 Greater Manchester 7 
			 Hampshire 3 
			 Humberside 1 
			 Kent 4 
			 Lancashire 6 
			 Leicestershire 4 
			 Merseyside 8 
			 Metropolitan Police 18 
			 Norfolk 1 
			 Northumbria 2 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 
			 Staffordshire 2 
			 Suffolk 2 
			 Sussex 2 
			 Thames Valley 2 
			 West Mercia 3 
			 West Yorkshire 1 
			 North Wales 1 
			 South Wales 1 
			 England and Wales 81 
			 (1) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (2) Only police force areas (PFAs) with data have been included in the tableif a PFA has not been included assume nil data.  Source: E and A UnitOffice for Criminal Justice Reform

Alcoholic Drinks: Public Places

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden of 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1275W, on alcoholic drinks: enforcement, how many people were  (a) prosecuted,  (b) convicted and  (c) given a level two fine for the offence of failing to comply with a requirement by a constable regarding the consumption of alcohol in a designated public place in 2007.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 18 December 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 713-14W.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1047W, on alcohol: young people, if she will provide figures for 2007 on  (a) prosecutions,  (b) convictions and  (c) penalty notices for disorder issued.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the number of persons who were proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to purchase of alcohol by a person aged under 18 years in England and Wales in 2007 can be viewed in the following table.
	In addition there were 158 Penalty Notices for Disorder issued to youths aged 16 to 17 for the offence of Buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18 (section 149(1), Licensing Act 2003 (c.17) for 2007 in England and Wales. The offence was added to the Scheme in April 2004 and attracts a penalty of 50.
	
		
			  The number of persons who were proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to purchase of alcohol by a person aged under 18 years in England and Wales, 2007( 1,2,3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 2007 5 4 
			 (1) Data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Data include the following statutes and corresponding offence descriptions : Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (Sec 3) para 4(2). Licensing Act 1964 Sec 169(2). Person under 18 buying or attempting to buy or consuming intoxicating liquor. Person under 18 buying or consuming intoxicating liquor in Licensed premises. Licensing Act 2003 S. 149(l)(7a) Purchase of alcohol by an individual under 18. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Court proceedings data held by Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis Unit

Asylum: Expenditure

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on the  (a) assisted voluntary returns and  (b) enforced returns of unsuccessful asylum seekers in each of the last five years; and how many were returned under each system.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 16 December 2008
	 The information is as follows.
	
		
			  Asylum based assisted voluntary returns (AVR) 
			   AVR spend ()  Number returning under AVR 
			 2003-04 (1)4,787,054.00  
			 2004-05 8,767,885.83 20042,705 
			 2005-06 9,450,020.00 20053,235 
			 2006-07 14,851,442.42 20065,340 
			 2007-08 12,135,665.00 20072,865 
			 (1) Assisted voluntary returns figures were not published in 2003.  Notes: 1. Financial spend figures for AVR Programme year 2008-09 are not yet available as the programme is still currently operating. 2. Financial spend figures for AVR programme years 2006-07 and 2007-08 are still subject to audit and are therefore subject to change and should be treated as provisional 3. Asylum based returns under assisted voluntary return programmes (run by the International Organization for Migration) may include some cases leaving under the Assisted Voluntary Return for Irregular Migrants Programme and some cases where enforcement action has been initiated. 4. Asylum based AVR returns figures for 2007 should be treated as provisional. 
		
	
	A breakdown of the spend on enforced returns of unsuccessful asylum seekers in each of the last five years is not available. The National Audit Office (NAO) give a breakdown of what it costs to enforce the removal of a failed asylum seeker in Appendix 2 of their Report Returning Failed Asylum applicants. In this they estimate the average cost of an enforced removal as being 11,000.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum, including removals, are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.

British Nationality

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of people resident in the UK hold UK citizenship.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office holds records of those people who have acquired British citizenship by registration or naturalisation. It does not hold records of those who have an automatic claim to citizenship, for example by being born here.

Crime: Economic Situation

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely effect of the economic downturn on levels of recorded crime.

Alan Campbell: Academic research, including a study by the Home Office, has demonstrated an association between changes in the economy and some crime. These studies cannot fully allow for the impact of policy or other interventions and hence do not predict actual levels of crime.
	Since March 2003, overall crime has fallen by 18 per cent. exceeding the 15 per cent. target set out in the Home Office's public service agreement. That reduction is greater than would have been forecast based on economic factors alone, and the Department is confident that the right policies and systems are in place to continue to cut crime and that they provide the flexibility needed to respond to future economic challenges.

Crime: Victims

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of crime have benefited from the Youth Crime Action Plan in  (a) England and Wales,  (b) the North East,  (c) Tees Valley district and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.

Alan Campbell: The Government are committed to driving down youth crime and keeping the communities, including young people themselves, safer and reducing youth victimisation.
	Information on how many victims of crime have benefited from the Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP) is not available either from the British Crime Survey (BCS) or police recorded crime data as the action plan has only been published for a few months. However, following a recommendation of the independent Smith review of the Home Office crime statistics, the British Crime Survey is being extended to include those aged under 16 years from 2009. This will assist in providing a clearer understanding of youth victimisation. We know that young people are more likely to be victims of other young people, and we are committed to driving down levels of youth victimisation. Through the implementation of the YCAP, we have introduced a new national objective to substantially reduce the number of young victims by 2020.
	As part of YCAP, in October 2008 we announced that five areas across the country have been awarded a share of nearly half a million pounds to undertake pilot work to create the next generation of support services for young victims of crime.
	These areas are Derby, Lambeth, Norfolk, Lewisham and Oxfordshire.
	Also it was announced in September 2008 that 56.5 million of the YCAP money will be used to tackle youth crime across England in 69 local authority areas.
	Each of the 69 areas were being offered 700,000 to implement an intensive package of action over the next three years, with an immediate cash injection of 90,000 available to each local authority in (2008).
	This builds on the excellent work already under way in many local areas across the country and on the Government's track record in investing in children and young people. Measures will include:
	Operation Stay Safeusing safeguarding laws to remove young people at risk from the streets at night;
	street-based teams of youth workers and ex-gang members to tackle groups of young people involved in crime and disorder;
	increased visible police patrols during after-school hours;
	expanding Family Intervention Projects to respond more effectively to families at risk;
	providing positive activities for young people;
	placing youth offending team workers in police stations so that young offenders can be dealt with and directed to the most appropriate service at the earliest opportunity; and
	making young offenders feel the consequences of their actions by expanding reparation during their leisure time, including on Friday and Saturday nights.
	Of the 69 local authorities areas, those in the North East have agreed to deliver the following measures to tackle youth crime in their area:
	 Darlington
	Operation Stay Safe
	Street based teams
	Youth Offending Team in custody suite
	 Durham
	Youth Offending Team in custody suite
	After school patrols
	Family Intervention Programme (FIP)
	 Gateshead
	Street based teams
	Youth Offending Team in custody suite
	Reparation in leisure time
	 Hartlepool
	Street based teams
	Youth Offending Team in custody suite
	Operation Stay Safe
	After school patrols
	Reparation in leisure time
	Family Intervention Programme (FIP)
	Think Family
	 Middlesbrough
	Street based teams
	Youth Offending Team in custody suite
	Reparation in leisure time
	 Newcastle upon Tyne
	Street based teams
	After school patrols
	 North Tyneside
	Youth Offending Team in custody suite
	Family Intervention Programme (FIP)
	 Redcar and Cleveland
	Reparation in leisure time
	Street based teams
	Family Intervention Programme (FIP)
	 South Tyneside
	Street based teams
	 Stockton-on-Tees
	Street based teams
	After school patrols
	Reparation in leisure time
	 Sunderland
	Youth Offending Team in custody suite
	Reparation in leisure time
	Family Intervention Programme (FIP)

Departmental Data Protection

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times  (a) her Department and  (b) the Border and Immigration Agency lost or misplaced databases relating to (i) British citizens and (ii) foreign nationals in each of the last five years; what information, relating to how many people, was held on lost or misplaced databases; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Home Office records do not show any incidents of lost or misplaced databases containing data on British citizens or foreign nationals since 1997.

Departmental Energy

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to reduce the amount of energy it wastes.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office (including its Executive Agencies) is conscious of the need to minimise energy consumption. Our new facilities management contractors provide proactive energy management services including the collection of better quality and more timely data.
	We have also begun working with the Carbon Trust on a Carbon Management project with a view to surveying our larger buildings across the estate and implementing further energy saving measures.
	The Home Office has already taken some steps in many of its larger buildings to use energy more efficiently. For example we have shortened the operating hours of our cooling and heating plant, reduced the switch-on periods of the motion detector lighting and replaced inefficient lamps.

Departmental Marketing

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints about advertisements sponsored or funded by her Department were made to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in each year from 1997 to 2008; and how many of these were upheld by the ASA in each year.

Phil Woolas: Complaints made about Home Office adverts are made directly to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)not the Home Office. The Home Office is only informed of a complaint if the ASA decide to investigate. We are therefore unable to provide figures for the numbers of complaints.
	During the period 1 January 1997 to 21 December 2008 no complaints were upheld by the ASA about a Home Office advertisement.

Departmental Public Consultation

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which occasions her Department has convened a citizens' jury or randomly drawn panel of people to aid the Department's policy making since 2000; whether the participants were paid in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Since 2000 the Home Office has convened citizens' juries to inform two policy areas, both within the financial year 2007-08. One was a public consultation on crime, the other a series of public debates held across the country for UKBA. In each case participants were paid to attend.
	The Department recognises the important contribution that the public can make in developing policy and carries out a wide range of activities in addition to citizens' juries which allow Ministers and officials to listen to and understand the views of the public and stakeholders in developing policy.
	With regards to use of panels specifically: we are unable to separate out and identify the different research projects where panels may have been used for recruitment purposes.

Deportation: Sudan

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the Statement by Lord West of Spithead on 9 July 2008,  Official Report, House of Lords, column 750, whether Mr. Abdulmajid Hassan Ismail has been deported to Sudan; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Any request for information regarding individual cases is treated as being confidential by the UK Border Agency and is not normally disclosed to third parties. This is, of course, unless they are authorised representatives of the applicant. This is not a question of secrecy for its own sake, but simply a matter of protecting the privacy of the individual.

Deportation: Zimbabwe

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Zimbabwe nationals are detained in detention centres awaiting deportation back to Zimbabwe; how many of these people have been convicted of a crime in the UK; and how many of those have completed their sentences.

Jacqui Smith: The UK Border Agency detains only those Zimbabwean nationals who have committed crimes within the United Kingdom and are subject to deportation action and have been assessed as unsuitable for release due to being either a threat to the public and/or are likely to abscond. There are currently around 35 Zimbabwean criminals who have been detained beyond their sentence.
	All foreign criminals detained pending deportation action have their detention regularly reviewed and have the opportunity to apply for release on bail to the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

Detention Centres: Per Capita Costs

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average daily cost of detaining an illegal immigrant in a detention centre was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The average daily cost of detaining a person within the immigration removal centre estate is 130.

Entry Clearances

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas issued by posts in  (a) India,  (b) Pakistan,  (c) Bangladesh,  (d) South Africa,  (e) Australia and  (f) the US have been revoked in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The information could be provided only by checking individual applications which would be at disproportionate cost. The figures available for posts in India and Bangladesh, however, are given in the following table:
	
		
			   India  Bangladesh 
			 2004 (1)14 n/a 
			 2005 90 10 
			 2006 102 9 
			 2007 74 14 
			 2008 68 12 
			 Total 348 45 
			 (1) Figures for Mumbai only.  Note: These figures are unpublished and should be treated as provisional.

Entry Clearances: Internet

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to facilitate visa applications online.

Phil Woolas: An online application facility, known as Visa4UK, is provided by the UK Border Agency for visa applicants in 149 countries.

Genetics: Databases

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people aged under 16 years have a profile on the National DNA Database; and of these how many have a conviction recorded on the police national computer;
	(2)  how many people aged under 10 years have a profile on the National DNA Database; and of these how many have a conviction recorded on the police national computer.

Jacqui Smith: At 30 September 2008, there were 136,709 subject profiles on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) from persons currently aged under 16 submitted by police forces in England and Wales. The estimated number of individuals represented on the NDNAD is lower than the number of subject profiles as some profiles are replicates. The subject profile replication rate is currently calculated as 13.3 per cent. The estimated number of individuals aged under 16 is 118,527.
	The NDNAD does not hold information on criminal histories such as subsequent charges, cautions or convictions; this information is held on the police national computer (PNC). Information on the number of young persons aged under 16 who have a profile on the NDNAD and who have a conviction is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, some information is available on the number of persons aged under 18 on the NDNAD who have a conviction. This was obtained from the NDNAD and the PNC on 9-10 April 2008. The NDNAD data indicate that, on 10 April 2008, there were 349,934 subject sample profiles relating to persons aged 10 to 17 on it. Taking the replication rate into account, it is estimated that the 349,934 profiles are equivalent to 303,393 persons aged 10 to 17. Data obtained from the PNC on 9-10 April indicate that, of those estimated 303,393 persons, 264,297 (87.1 per cent.) had a conviction, caution, reprimand or had received a final warning and 39,095 (12.8 per cent.) had not been convicted, cautioned, received a final warning/reprimand and had no charge pending against them.
	At 30 September 2008, there were 70 subject profiles on the NDNAD from children currently aged under 10 submitted by police forces in England and Wales. The profile replication rate is not likely to apply to children aged under 10 as, in England and Wales, they are below the age of criminal responsibility and they cannot be arrested, prosecuted or convicted. Samples may only be taken from them with the consent of a parent or guardian.
	On 16 December 2008 I announced that the Government would take immediate steps to remove the DNA profiles of children aged under 10 from the NDNAD.

Genetics: Databases

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 676-7W, on genetics: databases, if she will break down the information given by police force area.

Jacqui Smith: Numbers of profiles added to the National DNA Database (NDNAD) where the person concerned was under 18 (regardless of their current age), are shown in table 1. Numbers of profiles added to the NDNAD where the person concerned is currently under 18 are shown in table 2. Numbers of profiles added to the NDNAD where the person concerned was under 18 at the time the profile was loaded but is now over 18 are shown in table 3.
	The figures provide a snapshot of the numbers added to the NDNAD by police forces in England and Wales as at 26 November 2008. In each table the numbers are broken down by gender and the police force which added the profile.
	'Unassigned' means that the police representative did not complete the section of the form referring to the person's gender.
	The number of profiles on the NDNAD is not the same as the number of individuals as a profile may be a replicate, that is, a profile may have been loaded on more than one occasion. This can occur if a person gives a different name, or different version of their name on separate arrests, or if a profile is upgraded. The current replication rate for the whole NDNAD is 13.3 per cent.
	The replication rate for profiles added by particular police forces may vary from this. Therefore a figure is given in each table for the estimated number of individuals on the NDNAD added by English and Welsh forces, but figures are not given for the estimated number of individuals added by each police force.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Force  Gender  Total subject  profile count 
			 Avon and Somerset Female 5,747 
			  Male 15,794 
			  Unassigned 408 
			
			 Bedfordshire Female 2,760 
			  Male 7,095 
			  Unassigned 227 
			
			 British Transport Female 1,609 
			  Male 8,120 
			  Unassigned 199 
			
			 Cambridgeshire Female 3,702 
			  Male 9,156 
			  Unassigned 11 
			
			 Cheshire Female 4,662 
			  Male 13,243 
			  Unassigned 400 
			
			 City of London Female 171 
			  Male 1,084 
			  Unassigned 2 
			
			 Cleveland Female 3,712 
			  Male 9,886 
			  Unassigned 62 
			
			 Cumbria Female 2,957 
			  Male 8,085 
			  Unassigned 67 
			
			 Derbyshire Female 5,491 
			  Male 15,042 
			  Unassigned 191 
			
			 Devon and Cornwall Female 6,957 
			  Male 18,122 
			  Unassigned 89 
			
			 Dorset Female 3,126 
			  Male 8,269 
			  Unassigned 26 
			
			 Durham Female 3,927 
			  Male 10,650 
			  Unassigned 6 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys Female 2,878 
			  Male 7,980 
			  Unassigned 102 
			
			 Essex Female 9,356 
			  Male 23,971 
			  Unassigned 152 
			
			 Gloucestershire Female 3,086 
			  Male 7,661 
			  Unassigned 136 
			
			 Greater Manchester Female 16,588 
			  Male 45,486 
			  Unassigned 524 
			
			 Gwent Female 3,103 
			  Male 9,793 
			  Unassigned 310 
			
			 Hampshire Female 10,071 
			  Male 25,639 
			  Unassigned 51 
			
			 Hertfordshire Female 5,200 
			  Male 12,829 
			  Unassigned 89 
			
			 Humberside Female 5,897 
			  Male 15,481 
			  Unassigned 85 
			
			 Kent Female 9,935 
			  Male 24,748 
			  Unassigned 462 
			
			 Lancashire Female 7,994 
			  Male 24,514 
			  Unassigned 172 
			
			 Leicestershire Female 3,307 
			  Male 11,323 
			  Unassigned 53 
			
			 Lincolnshire Female 2,760 
			  Male 7,621 
			  Unassigned 76 
			
			 Merseyside Female 7,130 
			  Male 22,799 
			  Unassigned 156 
			
			 Metropolitan Female 34,394 
			  Male 117,133 
			  Unassigned 562 
			
			 Norfolk Female 4,208 
			  Male 10,380 
			  Unassigned 47 
			
			 North Wales Female 3,619 
			  Male 10,253 
			  Unassigned 87 
			
			 North Yorkshire Female 3,886 
			  Male 9,416 
			  Unassigned 68 
			
			 Northamptonshire Female 1,622 
			  Male 6,137 
			  Unassigned 36 
			
			 Northumbria Female 13,235 
			  Male 30,544 
			  Unassigned 111 
			
			 Nottinghamshire Female 6,597 
			  Male 16,616 
			  Unassigned 650 
			
			 South Wales Female 7,275 
			  Male 19,187 
			  Unassigned 147 
			
			 South Yorkshire Female 7,697 
			  Male 20,835 
			  Unassigned 1 
			
			 Staffordshire Female 5,757 
			  Male 16,738 
			  Unassigned 59 
			
			 Suffolk Female 3,580 
			  Male 8,957 
			  Unassigned 266 
			
			 Surrey Female 3,610 
			  Male 10,033 
			  Unassigned 27 
			
			 Sussex Female 7,744 
			  Male 18,137 
			  Unassigned 8 
			
			 Thames Valley Female 8,540 
			  Male 23,721 
			  Unassigned 183 
			
			 Warwickshire Female 2,014 
			  Male 5,903 
			  Unassigned 40 
			
			 West Mercia Female 5,474 
			  Male 13,890 
			  Unassigned 57 
			
			 West Midlands Female 17,194 
			  Male 49,447 
			  Unassigned 1,907 
			
			 West Yorkshire Female 15,518 
			  Male 38,156 
			  Unassigned 164 
			
			 Wiltshire Female 3,230 
			  Male 8,353 
			  Unassigned 68 
			
			 Total profiles  1,094,091 
			
			 Total estimated individuals  948,577 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  Force  Gender  Total subject profile count 
			 Avon and Somerset Female 2,379 
			  Male 5,006 
			  Unassigned 100 
			
			 Bedfordshire Female 1,013 
			  Male 2,176 
			  Unassigned 9 
			
			 British Transport Female 490 
			  Male 1,898 
			  Unassigned 22 
			
			 Cambridgeshire Female 1,369 
			  Male 2,808 
			  Unassigned 1 
			
			 Cheshire Female 1,779 
			  Male 3,797 
			  Unassigned 12 
			
			 City of London Female 32 
			  Male 159 
			
			 Cleveland Female 1,489 
			  Male 3,005 
			  Unassigned 22 
			
			 Cumbria Female 1,152 
			  Male 2,622 
			  Unassigned 4 
			
			 Derbyshire Female 2,099 
			  Male 4,819 
			  Unassigned 109 
			
			 Devon and Cornwall Female 2,451 
			  Male 5,210 
			  Unassigned 1 
			
			 Dorset Female 1,077 
			  Male 2,325 
			  Unassigned 1 
			
			 Durham Female 1,487 
			  Male 3,327 
			  Unassigned 1 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys Female 928 
			  Male 2,166 
			  Unassigned 6 
			
			 Essex Female 3,816 
			  Male 7,846 
			  Unassigned 22 
			
			 Gloucestershire Female 1,112 
			  Male 2,220 
			  Unassigned 6 
			
			 Greater Manchester Female 6,178 
			  Male 13,750 
			  Unassigned 123 
			
			 Gwent Female 910 
			  Male 2,438 
			  Unassigned 94 
			
			 Hampshire Female 3,618 
			  Male 7,585 
			  Unassigned 4 
			
			 Hertfordshire Female 2,044 
			  Male 3,918 
			  Unassigned 2 
			
			 Humberside Female 1,898 
			  Male 3,866 
			  Unassigned 29 
			
			 Kent Female 3,615 
			  Male 7,582 
			  Unassigned 19 
			
			 Lancashire Female 2,513 
			  Male 6,423 
			  Unassigned 124 
			
			 Leicestershire Female 1,143 
			  Male 3,104 
			  Unassigned 5 
			
			 Lincolnshire Female 1,087 
			  Male 2,375 
			  Unassigned 34 
			
			 Merseyside Female 2,600 
			  Male 6,542 
			  Unassigned 22 
			
			 Metropolitan Female 10,589 
			  Male 30,398 
			  Unassigned 97 
			
			 Norfolk Female 1,470 
			  Male 2,776 
			
			 North Wales Female 1,185 
			  Male 2,749 
			  Unassigned 3 
			
			 North Yorkshire Female 1,580 
			  Male 2,989 
			  Unassigned 1 
			
			 Northamptonshire Female 579 
			  Male 1,685 
			  Unassigned 1 
			
			 Northumbria Female 5,052 
			  Male 9,808 
			  Unassigned 4 
			
			 Nottinghamshire Female 2,519 
			  Male 4,716 
			  Unassigned 4 
			
			 South Wales Female 2,093 
			  Male 4,578 
			  Unassigned 5 
			
			 South Yorkshire Female 3,009 
			  Male 6,223 
			  Unassigned 1 
			
			 Staffordshire Female 2,084 
			  Male 4,574 
			  Unassigned 8 
			
			 Suffolk Female 1,333 
			  Male 2,864 
			  Unassigned 6 
			
			 Surrey Female 1,390 
			  Male 2,966 
			  Unassigned 2 
			
			 Sussex Female 2,919 
			  Male 5,477 
			  Unassigned 2 
			
			 Thames Valley Female 3,622 
			  Male 7,743 
			  Unassigned 68 
			
			 Warwickshire Female 790 
			  Male 1,875 
			  Unassigned 4 
			
			 West Mercia Female 2,136 
			  Male 4,063 
			  Unassigned 3 
			
			 West Midlands Female 6,217 
			  Male 15,198 
			  Unassigned 79 
			
			 West Yorkshire Female 6,042 
			  Male 12,172 
			  Unassigned 16 
			
			 Wiltshire Female 1,080 
			  Male 2,287 
			  Unassigned 2 
			
			 Total profiles  337,154 
			
			 Total estimated individuals  292,313 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3 
			  Force  Gender  Total subject profile count 
			 Avon and Somerset Female 3,368 
			  Male 10,788 
			  Unassigned 308 
			
			 Bedfordshire Female 1,747 
			  Male 4,919 
			  Unassigned 218 
			
			 British Transport Female 1,119 
			  Male 6,222 
			  Unassigned 177 
			
			 Cambridgeshire Female 2,333 
			  Male 6,348 
			  Unassigned 10 
			
			 Cheshire Female 2,883 
			  Male 9,446 
			  Unassigned 388 
			
			 City of London Female 139 
			  Male 925 
			  Unassigned 2 
			
			 Cleveland Female 2,223 
			  Male 6,882 
			  Unassigned 40 
			
			 Cumbria Female 1,805 
			  Male 5,463 
			  Unassigned 63 
			
			 Derbyshire Female 3,392 
			  Male 10,223 
			  Unassigned 82 
			
			 Devon and Cornwall Female 4,506 
			  Male 12,912 
			  Unassigned 88 
			
			 Dorset Female 2,049 
			  Male 5,944 
			  Unassigned 25 
			
			 Durham Female 2,440 
			  Male 7,323 
			  Unassigned 5 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys Female 1,950 
			  Male 5,814 
			  Unassigned 96 
			
			 Essex Female 5,540 
			  Male 16,126 
			  Unassigned 130 
			
			 Gloucestershire Female 1,974 
			  Male 5,441 
			  Unassigned 130 
			
			 Greater Manchester Female 10,410 
			  Male 31,740 
			  Unassigned 401 
			
			 Gwent Female 2,193 
			  Male 7,355 
			  Unassigned 216 
			
			 Hampshire Female 6,453 
			  Male 18,055 
			  Unassigned 47 
			
			 Hertfordshire Female 3,156 
			  Male 8,911 
			  Unassigned 87 
			
			 Humberside Female 3,999 
			  Male 11,616 
			  Unassigned 56 
			
			 Kent Female 6,320 
			  Male 17,169 
			  Unassigned 443 
			
			 Lancashire Female 5,481 
			  Male 18,092 
			  Unassigned 48 
			
			 Leicestershire Female 2,165 
			  Male 8,220 
			  Unassigned 48 
			
			 Lincolnshire Female 1,673 
			  Male 5,246 
			  Unassigned 42 
			
			 Merseyside Female 4,530 
			  Male 16,257 
			  Unassigned 134 
			
			 Metropolitan Female 23,805 
			  Male 86,737 
			  Unassigned 439 
			
			 Norfolk Female 2,738 
			  Male 7,605 
			  Unassigned 47 
			
			 North Wales Female 2,434 
			  Male 7,506 
			  Unassigned 84 
			
			 North Yorkshire Female 2,306 
			  Male 6,427 
			  Unassigned 67 
			
			 Northamptonshire Female 1,043 
			  Male 4,452 
			  Unassigned 35 
			
			 Northumbria Female 8,183 
			  Male 20,738 
			  Unassigned 107 
			
			 Nottinghamshire Female 4,078 
			  Male 11,900 
			  Unassigned 646 
			
			 South Wales Female 5,182 
			  Male 14,611 
			  Unassigned 142 
			
			 South Yorkshire Female 4,688 
			  Male 14,613 
			
			 Staffordshire Female 3,673 
			  Male 12,164 
			  Unassigned 51 
			
			 Suffolk Female 2,247 
			  Male 6,093 
			  Unassigned 260 
			
			 Surrey Female 2,220 
			  Male 7,067 
			  Unassigned 25 
			
			 Sussex Female 4,825 
			  Male 12,660 
			  Unassigned 6 
			
			 Thames Valley Female 4,918 
			  Male 15,978 
			  Unassigned 115 
			
			 Warwickshire Female 1,224 
			  Male 4,029 
			  Unassigned 36 
			
			 West Mercia Female 3,338 
			  Male 9,827 
			  Unassigned 54 
			
			 West Midlands Female 10,977 
			  Male 34,249 
			  Unassigned 1,828 
			
			 West Yorkshire Female 9,476 
			  Male 25,985 
			  Unassigned 148 
			
			 Wiltshire Female 2,150 
			  Male 6,066 
			  Unassigned 66 
			
			 Total profiles  756,937 
			
			 Total estimated individuals  656,264

Human Trafficking

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many victims of human trafficking have been rescued by the Metropolitan Police human trafficking unit in each of the last two years.

Jacqui Smith: Figures from the Metropolitan police indicate that in 2007, there were 39 crime reports involving a potential 42 victims of human trafficking. Up to 1 December 2008, there had been 31 reports alleging trafficking for sexual exploitation involving 34 possible victims.
	It is not possible to break down the number of victims rescued solely by the activities of the MPS trafficking team, which is one part of the Met's wider commitment to tackling organised immigration crime including human trafficking.

Human Trafficking

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) arrests and  (b) convictions there have been for human trafficking offences as a result of the activity of the Metropolitan Police human trafficking unit in each of the last two years.

Jacqui Smith: Figures from the Metropolitan police indicate that in 2007-08, the MPS human trafficking unit made a total of 33 arrests for human trafficking offences The figures from the Met indicate that to date there have been eight convictions within the last two years for human trafficking with six others being convicted of related offences such as controlling prostitution.
	It is not possible to detail the outcome of all cases as many are still progressing through the criminal justice system.

Human Trafficking: Children

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many trafficked children have gone missing from the care of social services in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: There is no central record of the number of victims of child trafficking who have gone missing from social services over the past five years.

Human Trafficking: Sentencing

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average sentence was for those convicted of human trafficking offences over the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The sentences imposed by the courts on those convicted of human trafficking ranges from suspended sentences to 14 years imprisonment.
	The average length of sentence however for the offence of human trafficking is 4.69 years although it should be noted in many cases those convicted are serving longer terms of imprisonment as result of convictions for other related offences such as rape, inciting prostitution or immigration related offences.

Identity Cards: Foreigners

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department plans to charge foreign nationals who  (a) require and  (b) do not require a visa for an identity card in each of the next five years.

Jacqui Smith: The current fee for an application for a foreign national identity card made separately from an immigration application (e.g. for damaged or lost cards) for non-EEA nationals is 30. There is no additional charge for a foreign national identity card issued as part of a visa application made by a non-EEA national. The cost of making a visa application to enter the UK varies from category to category.
	It is intended that the fee for an identity card issued to UK and EEA nationals in 2009-10 will be 30.
	We review fees annually to ensure that they continue to contribute to the costs of an application. Fees for future years have not yet been set.

Identity Cards: Welsh Language

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on issuing identity cards with text in both the Welsh and English languages; and what consideration she has given to the proposal.

Meg Hillier: Ministers are involved in discussions from time to time on many different aspects of the National Identity Scheme, including the format of the identity card. The initial cards issued to British citizens, starting in the second half of 2009 to airside workers at a small number of airports, including Manchester and London City airports, will have headings in English and French. This is in line with travel document standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
	The issue of Welsh language ID cards has been raised with Ministers by a number of Welsh MPs and at an ID card event in Cardiff in 2008. As a result, officials are in discussions with the Wales Office to see how Welsh language could be included on cards issued to Welsh residents.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal workers are estimated to be residing in the UK.

Jacqui Smith: Since the abolition of embarkation controls, which started in 1994, no Government have ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally and that includes those that might be working illegally.
	By the end of December 2008, the majority of foreign nationals will be counted in and out of the country.
	This is one part of the biggest shake-up of border security and the immigration system in a generation which also includes the global roll-out of fingerprint visas, compulsory watch-list checks for all travellers from high-risk countries before they land in Britain and ID cards for foreign nationals.
	The UK Border Agency is committed to tackling illegal migrant working and will act on any intelligence it receives that a business is employing illegal workers. Equally, if an employer is found to be employing an illegal migrant worker and they have not ensured that the person has full entitlement to work in the UK, then they may be subject to a civil penalty of up to 10,000 or, in more serious cases, criminal prosecution. If convicted on indictment, the employer may face an unlimited fine and in some cases, imprisonment for up to two years.

Immigrants: Detainees

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what compensation payments have been made by  (a) her Department and  (b) private contractors working for her Department to immigration detainees in (i) response to allegations of unlawful detention, (ii) response to allegations of assault and (iii) total since 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 18 December 2008
	 The information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained through examination of individual records only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration Controls: Foreign Workers

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to her statement of 21 October 2008,  Official Report, column 175, what the evidential basis is for the statement that 12 per cent. fewer low-skilled workers from outside the EU would have come to the UK to work last year had Tier 2 of the points-based migration system been in place.

Jacqui Smith: We expect volumes for Tier 2 General and Intra-Company Transfers (skilled workers within the points-based System) to decrease because of the requirement to satisfy points criteria, such as prospective earnings and qualifications thresholds.
	Using data from work permit applications, including on earnings, we estimated that if tighter Tier 2 rules had been in place last year, 12.1 per cent. fewer people from outside EEA would have been allowed into Britain in that category (skilled migrants).

Immigration: English Language

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment her Department made of ETS's performance before approving its test of English as a foreign language for use within the immigration system; and whether any references provided were taken up.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency undertook an assessment exercise to ensure that all the tests included on the list of approved English language tests for Tier 1 satisfied our required standards of assessment and test security. In support of their application, ETS provided information on:
	Award security features
	Test methodologies
	Test security
	Test verification procedures
	How ETS Mapped their test to the Common European Framework Reference for Languages: Learning, Training, assessment (CEFR)
	How ETS train their test markers and how marking standards are set
	The bona fides of their organisation
	The results of ETS's English language tests are recognised by employers and institutions the world wide. However, the actual procurement of testing services is between ETS and the individual applicant taking their test.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will reply to the letter to her of 28 October from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. A. Benmeddall.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 5 January 2009.

Metropolitan Police: Human Trafficking

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers work for the Metropolitan Police human trafficking unit.

Jacqui Smith: There are 11 police officers working for the MPS human trafficking team.
	This team is one part of the Met's wider commitment to tackling organised immigration crime. Other resources targeting these illegal activities, including human trafficking, include local borough policing, Operation Maxim, Swale, Golf, Paladin Child and the Clubs and Vice Unit.

Migration Impacts Forum

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are involved in running the Migration Impacts Forum; and what estimate she has made of the costs of running the Forum in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Phil Woolas: Four staff from the Home Office and Communities and Local Government jointly provide the secretariat for the MIF, as part of their wider responsibilities. Other staff from a number of Government Departments are involved on an ad hoc basis as required.
	The MIF has no running costs other than those of staff time within the Departments and the logistical arrangements of the quarterly MIF meetings. These costs are paid for from within departmental budgets.

Offenders

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former prisoners are employed by her Department; and what her Department's policy is on employing former prisoners.

Phil Woolas: All people who wish to work for the Department are subject to criminal records checks as part of the National Security Vetting (NSV). The Department does not keep figures on how many former prisoners it employs and such staff cannot be distinguished from all other staff who are successfully cleared to work. Obtaining this information could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
	The policy is that potentially suitable candidates for employment who have a criminal record will not automatically be ruled out from employment with the Home Office. Each candidate is considered on an individual basis, including consideration of severity and timing of convictions.

Offenders: Deportation

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign prisoners were removed under the Early Removal Scheme in the last year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 16 December 2008
	 The information requested is not available and can only be obtained through the detailed examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost. The Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency has regularly updated the Home Affairs Select Committee with all of the most robust information available. In her letter of 23 July 2008 she advised the Committee that the agency is now removing or deporting around a fifth of all individuals direct from prison an average of 180 days before their release date. For the remaining individuals it is taking the agency around 130 days, on average, to deport or remove them from the UK. A copy of this letter is available in the Library of the House.

Organised Crime

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to dissuade individuals from joining gangs.

Alan Campbell: In September 2007, the Home Secretary set up the Tackling Gangs Action Programme to focus renewed action in neighbourhoods in Birmingham, Liverpool, London and Manchester where guns and gangs have caused serious harm. The initial 1.5 million programme ran for six months to March 2008 but the work is ongoing.
	This targeted approach delivered rapid resultsa 51 per cent. reduction in firearms-related injuries across the four cities in six months. Recent quarterly statistics show that firearms offences continue to fall, with a reduction of 22 per cent. in April to June 2008 compared with the same period in the previous year.
	A further 1 million of funds has been allocated to build on enforcement work, community reassurance and third sector delivery of support in the four TGAP areas. A practical guide was published in May to local partners highlighting examples of good practice on gang prevention. In September, we launched a gangs guide to parents to help prevent their children becoming involved in gangs and due to demand, a further 250,000 are being made available. More recently, 4.5 million of additional funding over the period 2009-12 was announced for local community groups in targeted areas. The new fund will provide grants for intensive work with young people most at risk of gun, gang or knife crime through mentoring and outreach work.

Police

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average crime clear-up rate was in England and Wales in 2007-08, broken down by police force; what assessment she has made of the reasons for differences in such rates between police forces; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: The information requested is given in the following table. Detections (or 'clear ups') can be subdivided into sanction and non-sanction detections. Sanction detections are now the preferred method, providing a more meaningful comparison of individual force performance. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances. Some forces have already abandoned their use on non-sanction detections altogether. The reductions in the use of non-sanction detections are clearly demonstrated by the figures given in the table.
	There are variations in detection rates across police force areas. These variations reflect a range of factors, including differing resources available to investigate crime, varying force priorities and the crime mix within the wider offence groups.
	Different offence types have different detection rates so any changes in the 'crime mix' will also affect the overall rates of detection. Furthermore, the most numerous crimes have the greatest influence on overall detection rates. Sanction detections rates for individual offence groups by police force area are published in Table 7.04 of Crime in England and Wales 2007-08' which is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/hosb0708chap7.xls
	
		
			  Detection rates by police force area and region, 2007-08( 1) 
			  Police force areas, English regions and Wales  Detection rate  Sanction detection rate 
			 Cleveland 33 33 
			 Durham 29 29 
			 Northumbria 38 38 
			 North East Region 35 35 
			 Cheshire 26 26 
			 Cumbria 38 38 
			 Greater Manchester 25 25 
			 Lancashire 35 35 
			 Merseyside 32 32 
			 North West Region 29 29 
			 Humberside 31 31 
			 North Yorkshire 33 33 
			 South Yorkshire 27 27 
			 West Yorkshire 24 24 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Region 27 27 
			 Derbyshire 29 29 
			 Leicestershire 27 27 
			 Lincolnshire 28 28 
			 Northamptonshire 25 25 
			 Nottinghamshire 23 23 
			 East Midlands Region 26 26 
			 Staffordshire 28 28 
			 Warwickshire 26 26 
			 West Mercia 29 29 
			 West Midlands 27 27 
			 West Midlands Region 27 27 
			 Bedfordshire 22 22 
			 Cambridgeshire 27 27 
			 Essex 32 32 
			 Hertfordshire 30 30 
			 Norfolk 32 32 
			 Suffolk 30 30 
			 East of England Region 30 29 
			 London, City of 36 36 
			 Metropolitan Police 25 25 
			 London Region 25 25 
			 Hampshire 27 26 
			 Kent 27 27 
			 Surrey 27 27 
			 Sussex 32 32 
			 Thames Valley 25 25 
			 South East Region 27 27 
			 Avon and Somerset 25 25 
			 Devon and Cornwall 28 28 
			 Dorset 27 27 
			 Gloucestershire 32 32 
			 Wiltshire 27 27 
			 South West Region 27 27 
			 Dyfed-Powys 42 42 
			 Gwent 30 30 
			 North Wales 40 40 
			 South Wales 26 26 
			 Wales 31 31 
			 British Transport Police 27 27 
			 England and Wales 28 28 
			 (1) Percentage of offences detected.

Police: Economic Situation

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what projections she has made of trends in the level of demand for police services as a result of the economic downturn; and what consideration she has given to allocating additional resources to police services in this respect.

Vernon Coaker: Since March 2003, overall crime has fallen by 18 per cent., exceeding the 15 per cent. target set out in the Home Office's public service agreement. That reduction is greater than would have been forecast based on socio-economic factors alone, and we are confident that the right policies and systems are in place to continue to cut crime and that they provide the flexibility needed to respond to future economic challenges.
	Decisions on the distribution of local resources in response to varying demands are matters for the chief constable and the police authority for the force concerned.
	The three-year funding settlement for the years 2008-09 to 2010-11 that we announced last year reflects the Government's continuing commitment to improve policing and reduce crime further. The police service in England and Wales has benefited from a significant increase in resources over a sustained period. On a like-for-like basis Government grant for the police will have increased by over 60 per cent. or over 3.7 billion between 1997-98 and 2010-11.

Repatriation: China

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many repatriations of people from the UK China has  (a) accepted in each year since 2001 and  (b) agreed to accept in each of the next four years.

Jacqui Smith: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Information on destination data of those removed from the United Kingdom has only been available since 2004.
	The figures provided here are the number of Chinese nationals removed to China in each year. Figures include enforced returns, voluntary departures and assisted returns.
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004 260 
			 2005 460 
			 2006 630 
			 2007 1,065 
		
	
	 (b) We do not have an agreement with China that restricts how many returnees will be accepted in coming years.

Seized Articles: Motor Vehicles

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motor cars have been seized wrongly owing to  (a) inaccuracies in and  (b) omissions from the Motor Insurers' Database in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by police authority in England.

Alan Campbell: This information is not collected centrally. The police are empowered to seize any vehicle where the driver cannot produce a valid certificate of insurance and there are reasonable grounds for believing he or she is driving without appropriate insurance. In forming their opinion the police will typically refer to the Motor Insurers' Database and the dedicated police helpline provided by the Motor Insurance Bureau to help resolve any apparent discrepancy between database information and assertions by the motorist.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many cases were being investigated by the Serious Organised Crime Agency in which criminal confiscation action had been initiated in  (a) Northern Ireland and  (b) the UK as at 31 March 2008; what the estimated value of the assets restrained in those cases was; in how many such investigations SOCA has obtained a confiscation order; what the value of assets affected by such orders is; and what the estimated value of assets restrained under such orders is;
	(2)  how many criminal investigations were opened by the Serious Organised Crime Agency in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; what value of assets have been restrained in such cases in each year; in how many such cases assets have been restrained in each year; what estimate has been made of the value of assets under investigation in such cases in each year; how many such cases related to criminal confiscation investigations in each year; and how many such cases resulted in persons being charged in each year.

Alan Campbell: The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) undertakes a range of operational activity in order to fulfil its functions as defined in sections 2 and 3 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. As referred to in its latest annual report, SOCA's contribution to the UK Serious Organised Crime Control Strategy in the two years since it was formed has been:
	2006-07: 404 operations and projects.
	2007-08: 459 operations and projects. In addition, as at 31 March 2008 SOCA was undertaking 173 inquiries (single strand investigations).
	Operations are multi-faceted and the activity is tailored to that which is most likely to have the greatest impact on harm at the time. During the lifetime of an operation a SOCA investigation may switch between a criminal investigation and an investigation that seeks to disrupt an individual, group, or criminal activity other than by way of a criminal investigation and vice versa, or it may look to prosecute some members of the group and use civil or other powers against others. SOCA does not therefore hold information on the number of separate criminal investigations within operations. Information on the number of arrests and convictions flowing from SOCA's work is set out in the SOCA annual report.
	Every SOCA tasked operation will include a financial element and criminal confiscation will be pursued where appropriate. Where SOCA has decided to take forward a criminal confiscation investigation in conjunction with a criminal investigation, these investigations are in persona i.e. against the person not in rem i.e. against the property.
	SOCA therefore does not measure each criminal investigation in terms of assets involved, but in terms of the criminal's benefit from their conduct.

Sight Impaired

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines her Department follows in respect of making printed materials and forms accessible to people suffering red/green colour blindness.

Phil Woolas: The Home Department published its Overarching Race, Disability and Gender Equality Scheme: Progress Report in May 2008 in which we state that Home Department publications will be produced in accessible formats for disabled people.

Theft

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances of  (a) burglary,  (b) shoplifting and  (c) handling of stolen goods were recorded in each of the last three years.

Alan Campbell: The information requested is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Selected offences recorded by the police 
			  Number of offences 
			  Offence  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Burglary 645,068 622,012 583,699 
			 Shoplifting 295,999 294,282 290,625 
			 Handling stolen goods 12,714 11,826 11,227

UK Border Agency: Airwave Service

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Airwave handsets issued to the UK Border Agency have been lost in each year since their introduction; and how many handsets issued to the Agency have been disabled by the service provider through  (a) loss,  (b) breakage and  (c) other reasons in each such year.

Phil Woolas: Airwave handsets were introduced to the UK Border Agency in 2006. The number of handsets issued to the agency that have been disabled due to loss, or other reasons were: one in 2006; seven in 2007; and one in 2008.
	Additionally, the number of handsets that were reported lost, temporarily disabled on network, then subsequently found and reactivated on the network were: four in 2006; 12 in 2007; and two in 2008.

UK Border Agency: Lost Property

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many files relating to applications from members of the public have been lost in transit between units of the UK Border Agency and its predecessor in each of the last three years.

Jacqui Smith: The information is not available in the format requested. If a file is shown as being in transit then it is not deemed to have been lost.

Violent and Sex Offender Register

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) licensed and  (b) unlicensed taxi drivers are on the National Sex Offenders Register.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 18 December 2008
	The information requested is not available.

JUSTICE

Airwave Service: Prison Service

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Airwave headsets issued to HM Prison Service have been lost in each year since their introduction.

Shahid Malik: No Airwave equipment has been lost by HM Prison Service since its introduction three years ago.

Alcoholic Drinks: Public Places

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have received the maximum penalty for an offence under section 12(4) of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 since the Act came into force.

Maria Eagle: None.

Constitution: Crown Dependencies

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the Government's policy is on the future constitutional relationship between the UK and the Crown Dependencies.

Michael Wills: There are no plans for change to the constitutional relationship between the UK and the Crown dependencies.

Departmental Equality

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on the  (a) sex,  (b) ethnicity,  (c) age,  (d) disability,  (e) sexual orientation and  (f) religion or belief of its staff; and what assessment he has made of his Department's performance against its targets relating to diversity in its workforce.

Shahid Malik: The information requested is outlined as follows.
	 (a) Gender
	
		
			  Table A: Number and percentage of staff by gender in the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) as at 30 November 2008 
			  Gender  Total  Percentage 
			 Female 38,715 47.6 
			 Male 42,684 52.4 
			 Grand total 81,399 100 
		
	
	 (b) Ethnicity
	
		
			  Table B: Number and percentage of staff by ethnic grouping in the MOJ as at 30 November 2008 
			  Ethnic Grouping  Total  Percentage 
			 Asian or Asian BritishBangladeshi 232 0.3 
			 Asian or Asian BritishIndian 1,239 1.8 
			 Asian or Asian BritishOther 332 0.5 
			 Asian or Asian BritishPakistani 364 0.5 
			 Black or Black BritishAfrican 1,004 1.5 
			 Black or Black BritishCaribbean 1,223 1.8 
			 Black or Black BritishOther 222 0.3 
			 Chinese or OtherChinese 72 0.1 
			 Chinese or OtherOther 507 0.7 
			 MixedOther 302 0.4 
			 MixedWhite and Asian 177 0.3 
			 MixedWhite and Black African 75 0.1 
			 MixedWhite and Black Caribbean 205 0.3 
			 WhiteBritish 32,506 47.7 
			 WhiteIrish 478 0.7 
			 WhiteOther 29,280 42.9 
			 Total declared 68,218 83.8 
			 Total undeclared 13,181 16.2 
		
	
	 (c) Age
	
		
			  Table C: Number and percentage of staff in the MOJ by age as at 30 November 2008 
			  Age Banding (years)  Total  Percentage 
			 16 to 19 635 0.8 
			 20 to 24 5,109 6.3 
			 25 to 29 8,002 9.8 
			 30 to 34 7,227 8.9 
			 35 to 39 10,020 12.3 
			 40 to 44 13,274 16.3 
			 45 to 49 12,615 15.5 
			 50 to 54 10,464 12.9 
			 55 to 59 8,466 10.4 
			 60 to 64 4,897 6.0 
			 65+ 690 0.8 
			 Grand total 81,399 100 
		
	
	 (d) Disability
	
		
			  Table D: Number and percentage of staff by declaration of disability in the MOJ as at 30 November 2008 
			  Disability category  Total  Percentage 
			 Declared disabled 2,416 5 
			 Declared non-disabled 45,732 95 
			
			 Total declared 48,148 59 
			 Total status undeclared/no response 33,251 41 
		
	
	 (e) and (f) Sexual Orientation and Religion
	We currently collect data on sexual orientation and religion for new recruits and therefore the data only covers a very small proportion of staff. The MOJ is exploring ways in which we can extend this data collection to existing employees in line with the Cabinet Office Promoting Equality, Valuing Diversity.
	 Assessment against targets
	This is the first set of figures provided for the new Department, which shows good progress towards reflecting the society we serve. The data gathered will be used as a benchmark to assess and measure our continual progress.
	The MOJ fully recognises the business case for diversity and is strongly committed to improving the diversity of its people resource. To that end we have in place initiatives designed to help us recruit, develop and retain talented and diverse staff.

Domestic Violence

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many recovery notices his Department has issued under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

Maria Eagle: None. This is an un-commenced piece of legislation, which would be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.

Driving Offences: North West

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were  (a) cautioned and  (b) fined for speeding in (i) Stockport Metropolitan Borough, (ii) Greater Manchester and (iii) the North West in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Speeding offences, under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and Motor Vehicles (Speed Limit on Motorways) Regulations 1973, can be dealt with by way of written warnings, court proceedings or the issuing of a fixed penalty notice.
	Available information collected centrally on the Court Proceedings Database, held by the Ministry of Justice, on the number of persons given a court fine for speed limit offences within the Greater Manchester police force area and the North West region from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is provided as follows in table 1.
	Information collected centrally by the Home Office on the number of fixed penalty notices issued for speeding offences, by area, for the period 2002 to 2006 is contained in table 2. Data for 2007 are due to be published in the spring of 2009.
	Formal cautions are not given for motoring offences.
	Data collected centrally are available at police force area level only.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of magistrates courts imposed fines( 1 ) for speed limit offences( 2)  within the Greater Manchester police force area, and the north west region( 3) , 2003 to 2007( 4, 5) 
			  Number of offences 
			   Area  Number of fines( 1) 
			 2003 Greater Manchester 6,265 
			  North West Region 19,025 
			
			 2004 Greater Manchester 4,745 
			  North West Region 17,187 
			
			 2005 Greater Manchester 7,220 
			  North West Region 17,983 
			
			 2006 Greater Manchester 6,699 
			  North West Region 19,201 
			
			 2007 Greater Manchester 4,521 
			  North West Region 20,600 
			 (1) Magistrates courts data only. Fines given at the Crown Court total nationally (England and Wales) less than 10 each year. (2 )Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 ss. 16, 81, 84, 86, 88. 89; Motor Vehicles (Speed Limit on Motorways) Regs. 1973; Parks Regulation (Amendment) Act 1926byelaws made thereunder. (3 )Includes, Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside police force areas. (4 )It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. (5 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis unit. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Fixed penalty notices issued( 1)  for speed limit offences( 2)  in Greater Manchester and the north west local government office region, 2002 to 2006 
			  Number of offences 
			  Police force area  2002( 3)  2003( 3)  2004  2005  2006 
			 Greater Manchester 35,861 44,903 43,531 59,478 60,282 
			 North west region(4) 219,883 204,702 186,659 193,954 211,582 
			 (1) Only covers notices paid where there is no further action. (2 )Offences under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and the Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973. (3 )Revised since original publication following amendments received from forces. (4) Includes following police force areas: Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire  Note:  Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Home Office Statistics.

Driving Offences: North West

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people resident in  (a) Stockport Metropolitan Borough,  (b) Greater Manchester and  (c) the North West were (i) arrested under suspicion and (ii) convicted of driving when drunk in each quarter of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The number of convictions, at all courts, for offences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs for the years 2003 to 2007, by area, is contained in the following table. Data provided covers both drink and drugs offences combined as volumes of prosecutions and convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs cannot be accurately established separately.
	Information is available on a calendar year basis and at police force area level only. It does not identify where those convicted are resident.
	The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally. The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery. Offences relating to drink driving are non notifiable and do not form part of the arrests collection.
	
		
			  Findings of guilt at all courts for offences of driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs( 1) , within the Greater Manchester police force area, and the north west region, 2003 to 2007( 2, 3) 
			  Number of offences 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Greater Manchester 4,743 4,811 4,653 4,570 4,462 
			 North west region(4) 12,830 13,401 12,902 12,807 12,431 
			 (1 )Data provided covers summary offences of driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs (which cannot be reliably distinguished separately). (2 )It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. (3 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4 )Includes, Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside police force areas.  Source:  Office for Criminal Justice ReformEvidence and Analysis unit.

HM Courts Service: Hampshire

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many vacancies there were in  (a) the Courts Service and  (b) the Bailiff Service (i) on the Isle of Wight and (ii) in Hampshire in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: External recruitment for all permanent staff in Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) is managed through a central resourcing unit. This unit has been involved in filling external vacancies throughout the period in question. Firstly, for the former Court Service, which includes the bailiffs and following the creation of HMCS, it has also dealt with vacancies in the former magistrates courts. The following vacancies have been handled during the last five years for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight area.
	In 2004, there were 22 vacancies filled through the central unit and one of these was for a bailiff in Hampshire. There were no vacancies on the Isle of Wight.
	In 2005, there were 35 vacancies in total. In Hampshire there were 33 general vacancies and one vacancy for a bailiff. There was one general vacancy on the Isle of Wight.
	In 2006, there were 21 vacancies in total. In Hampshire there were 18 general vacancies and one vacancy for a bailiff post. There were two general vacancies on the Isle of Wight.
	In 2007, there were 33 vacancies in total. In Hampshire there were 30 general vacancies and one vacancy for a bailiff post. There were two general vacancies on the Isle of Wight.
	For the current year, a total of 49 posts have been handled by the unit. In Hampshire there have been 45 general vacancies and two vacancies for bailiffs. In addition, they have dealt with one general vacancy and one bailiff vacancy for the Isle of Wight.

Prisons: Population

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the projected prison population is for each month of  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

David Hanson: The Ministry of Justice produces annual projections of the prison population, most recently in September 2008.
	These project the prison population under three different scenarios, based on different assumptions about future sentencing trends: the medium scenario assumes no increases or decreases in custody rates or determinate sentence lengths. The high/low scenarios reflect a 1 per cent. per annum increase/decrease in custody rates and a 0.5 per cent. per annum increase/decrease in the average (determinate) custodial sentence lengths.
	Other impacts included in the projections, such as those of legislation and processes, are applied equally to all scenarios. These cover the anticipated impacts of policy and process initiatives that have agreed implementation timetables.
	
		
			   High  Medium  Low 
			 April 2009 84,000 83,400 82,600 
			 May 2009 84,200 83,400 82,600 
			 June 2009 85,100 84,300 83,300 
			 July 2009 86,100 85,200 84,200 
			 August 2009 85,400 84,500 83,400 
			 September 2009 85,900 84,800 83,600 
			 October 2009 86,400 85,300 84,000 
			 November 2009 86,400 85,200 83,800 
			 December 2009 84,700 83,400 81,900 
			 
			 January 2010 85,800 84,500 82,900 
			 February 2010 86,100 84,700 83,000 
			 March 2010 87,300 85,800 84,100 
			 April 2010 87,500 85,900 84,100 
			 May 2010 87,500 85,900 84,000 
			 June 2010 88,100 86,400 84,400 
			 July 2010 88,600 86,800 84,800 
			 August 2010 88,900 87,100 84,900 
			 September 2010 89,300 87,400 85,200 
			 October 2010 89,400 87,500 85,200 
			 November 2010 89,400 87,300 85,000 
			 December 2010 86,600 84,500 82,100 
			 
			 January 2011 88,800 86,600 84,200 
			 February 2011 89,700 87,400 84,800 
			 March 2011 89,700 87,400 84,700 
			  Notes: 1. Data are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Data are given for the last day of each month. 
		
	
	More details on the projections may be found in the latest published bulletin 'Prison Population Projections 2008-2015', Ministry of Justice Statistics Bulletin, 18 September 2008. This is available at the following webpage:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonpopulation.htm

Probation Service for England and Wales

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the merits of converting probation boards into probation trusts; what will happen to a probation board if it fails to convert into a probation trust within the required timescale; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The advantages of the creation of probation trusts were discussed through public consultation in 2005, during the passage of the Offender Management Act in 2007 and most recently in the analysis of probation services conducted by KPMG on behalf of the NOMS agency. I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Ceredigion (Mark Williams) on 20 November 2008,  Official Report, column 797W. Probation trusts will be contracted to provide services which reflect local needs and which have a clear focus on the achievement of outcomes. They will deliver services in partnership with providers from the private or voluntary and community sector based on the application of 'best value' principles and processes.
	From April 2010, probation services will be provided by trusts delivering to contract or other providers following competition. We are currently developing the policy on what will happen to those boards who fail to become trusts, further details will be available by spring 2009.

HEALTH

British Dental Association

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings Ministers in his Department have held with  (a) the British Dental Association and  (b) other dental organisations in the last 12 months.

Ann Keen: I have met formally twice with representatives of the British Dental Association, and once with the Chair and Chair Elect of the National Conference of Local Dental Committees over the past 12 months.

Cancer: Health Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made towards establishing a National Cancer Intelligence Network; and what priorities for  (a) routine analyses at a national level and  (b) research have been determined.

Ann Keen: The National Cancer Intelligence Network (NCIN) was launched in June 2008. Its aim is to promote efficient and effective data collection at each stage of the cancer journey, and to co-ordinate the analysis and publication of comparative national statistics on diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for all types of cancer.
	The core objectives of the NCIN are:
	promoting efficient and effective data collection throughout the cancer journey;
	providing a common national repository for cancer datasets;
	producing expert analyses, based on robust methodologies, to monitor patterns of cancer care;
	exploiting information to drive improvements in standards of cancer care and clinical outcomes; and
	enabling use of cancer information to support audit and research programmes.
	Chapter 8 of the first annual report of the Cancer Reform Strategy, 'Cancer Reform Strategy: Maintaining momentum, building for the futurefirst annual report', published on 1 December 2008, contains information about the NCIN's progress and priorities. This document has already been placed in the Library.

Cancer: Screening

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress National Health Service cancer screening programmes have made towards encouraging the sharing of best practice in improving accessibility for all groups.

Ann Keen: National health service (NHS) cancer screening programmes have funded several projects around improving access to cancer screening. These include a digital video disc (DVD) on bowel cancer screening in collaboration with the South Asian Health Foundation and a DVD in sign language. Promotional materials for the bowel cancer screening programme are available on the NHS cancer screening programme's website for local services to rework as appropriate for their local populations. NHS cancer screening programmes have also produced a guidance document, 'Equal Access to Breast and Cervical Screening for Disabled Women', which is available on their website at:
	www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/publications/cs2.html.
	A copy has been placed in the Library.
	NHS cancer screening programmes are represented on the National Cancer Equality Initiative (NCEI) Advisory Group. The NCEI was set up as part of the implementation of the Cancer Reform Strategy, published in December 2007 (a copy of which has already been placed in the Library), to take forward a series of actions to reduce inequalities in cancer care. The NCEI is initially focusing on optimising data collection to enhance our understanding of the inequalities that exist; promoting research to fill gaps in the evidence; and spreading and sustaining good practice in NHS organisations. The NCEI has undertaken a good practice survey to identify current projects aiming to reduce inequalities in cancer care, including cancer screening. The principles behind undertaking robust projects to reduce cancer inequalities, including examples from the survey, will be issued to the NHS later this year.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to move to an activity-based system for funding cervical cancer screening services.

Ann Keen: The decision has been taken to explore having a tariff for cervical screening, along with breast and bowel screening, to incentivise services to encourage higher coverage. The Department is working closely with national health service cancer screening programmes on a scoping exercise to inform this work.

Childbirth

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mothers had babies delivered at NHS hospitals in each district of the Yorkshire and Humberside strategic health authority area in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not held in the format required.
	However, information on total delivery episodes within Yorkshire and the Humber strategic health authority area (SHA), broken down by national health service trust, 2002-03 to 2006-07 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  NHS provider  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03 
			 Airedale NHS Trust 2,394 2,285 2,269 2,256 2,104 
			 Barnsley District General Hospital NHS Trust 2,571 2,399 2,317 2,295 2,164 
			 Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 5,746 5,889 5,490 5,305 5,248 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust 5,441 5,436 5,417 5,372 4,992 
			 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Trust 5,022 4,937 4,815 4,617 4,409 
			 Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust 1,713 1,678 1,641 1,576 1,592 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 5,384 5,072 5,064 4,881 4,683 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 8,786 8,468 8,223 7,863 7,103 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 6,189 6,238 6,081 6,053 5,605 
			 Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust 4,398 4,379 4,156 3,939 3,787 
			 The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust 2,685 2,610 2,557 2,529 2,474 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 6,530 6,365 6,354 6,163 5,805 
			 York Hospitals NHS Trust 3,242 3,032 3,127 2,865 2,820 
			  Notes: The NHS Information Centre reports that the figures provided for Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust have been redacted from the table because they appear to be significantly lower than reported. The NHS Information Centre and the Yorkshire and Humber SHA have been asked to investigate this.  Small numbers: To protect patient confidentiality, trusts with less than five deliveries have been removed.  Ungrossed data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Data quality: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Coverage and data quality: The maternity tail data coverage is not as complete as the rest of HES data. There are a number of reasons for the coverage and data quality issues such as: trusts submitting a significantly higher number of delivery episodes compared to birth episodes; trusts failing to submit data on the number of birth episodes where they record a high number of delivery episodes; trusts failing to submit deliverythe reason for this is that approximately 20 trusts have a standalone maternity system which is not linked to the Patient Administration System; trusts identifying a high number of maternity beds available, but not recording any information about deliveries or births; trusts identifying that they have no maternity beds available, but recording a high number of birth and delivery episodes; and some trusts have space in their maternity system to record nine birth tails, whereas other systems have space for 18. As deliveries, miscarriages and abortions are all recorded in the birth tail, there are cases where nine tails is not enough to record all of the relevant data . Between 2001-02 and 2005-06, coverage of hospital deliveries was 72.6 per cent. on average, whereas that of home deliveries was 13.6 per cent. on average. The incomplete coverage problem is significantly compounded by the data quality issues outlined above.  Finished Consultant Delivery Episode (FCE): A finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which the FCE finishes. Maternity events taking place in either NHS hospitals or in non-NHS hospitals funded by the NHS will be recorded as ordinary Delivery episodes. Other Delivery events are delivery events other than those resulting in delivery or birth episodes under NHS funding or in any other facility supplied under a service agreement with the NHS.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Childbirth

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mothers had babies delivered at  (a) Leeds General Infirmary and  (b) St. James's Hospital in each month of the last two years.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the total deliveries(1) for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust broken down by month the episode ended(2).
	
		
			   2006-07  2005-06 
			 Total deliveries 8,786 8,468 
			 April 711 700 
			 May 748 731 
			 June 731 662 
			 July 763 788 
			 August 786 668 
			 September 746 707 
			 October 759 736 
			 November 705 692 
			 December 753 740 
			 January 706 667 
			 February 635 641 
			 March 743 736 
			  Notes: (1)  Finished Consultant Delivery Episode (FCE): A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which the FCE finishes. We have provided a count of total deliveries measured by delivery episode and other delivery event: maternity events taking place in either national health service (NHS) hospitals or in non-NHS hospitals funded by the NHS will be recorded as ordinary Delivery. other Delivery events are delivery events other than those resulting in delivery or birth episodes under NHS funding or in any other facility supplied under a service agreement with the NHS.  Coverage and data quality : the maternity tail data coverage is not as complete as the rest of HES data. There are a number of reasons for the coverage and data quality issues such as: trusts submitting a significantly higher number of delivery episodes compared to birth episodes trusts failing to submit data on the number of birth episodes where they record a high number of delivery episodes trusts failing to submit deliverythe reason for this is that approximately 20 trusts have a standalone maternity system which is not linked to the Patient Administration System trusts identifying a high number of maternity beds available, but not recording any information about deliveries or births trusts identifying that they have no maternity beds available, but recording a high number of birth and delivery episodes some trusts have space in their maternity system to record nine birth tails, whereas other systems have space for 18. As deliveries, miscarriages and abortions are all recorded in the birth tail, there are cases where nine tails is not enough to record all of the relevant data. Between 2001-02 and 2005-06, coverage of hospital deliveries was 72.6 per cent. on average, whereas that of home deliveries was 13.6 per cent. on average. The incomplete coverage problem is significantly compounded by the data quality issues outlined above. (2)  Date episode ended This field contains the date on which a patient left the care of a particular consultant, for one of the following reasons: discharged from hospital (includes transfers) or moved to the care of another consultant. A null entry either indicates that the episode was unfinished at the end of the data year, or the date was unknown.  Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in the data,  i.e. the data are ungrossed.  Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Quality of care Data derived from HES cannot be used in isolation to evaluate the quality of care provided by NHS trusts or clinical teams. There are many factors that can affect the outcome of treatment and it is beyond the scope of HES to adequately record and reflect all of these. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care .

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what indicators his Department uses to evaluate the oral health of patients in England;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the relative level of oral health in England in comparison with previous years;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to improve the oral health of patients in England.

Ann Keen: The key indicators that we use are the average number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) in children and the number of adults with no natural teeth. Information from the decennial national child dental health surveys shows that DMFT in 12-year-old children in England declined from 5.0 in 1973 to 0.7 in 2003, which means that children in this age group are among children with the best oral health in Europe. Meanwhile the adult surveys show that between in 1968 and 1998 the proportion of adults with no natural teeth fell from 37 per cent. to 11 per cent. However, we are not complacent. AH primary care trusts (PCTs) are required to undertake an assessment of the oral health needs of their populations to inform their commissioning of primary care dental services. In September 2007, we published 'Delivering Better Oral Health: An evidence-based toolkit for prevention', which provides practical, evidence-based guidance to help dental teams promote oral health and prevent dental disease. A copy has already been placed in the Library. During 2008, the Chief Dental Officer and other leading members of the dental profession contributed to three regional conferences for PCTs and dental care professionals on implementation of the toolkit. Also, through reforms made to the legislation governing the fluoridation of water, we have given communities with high levels of dental disease a real option of having their water fluoridated.

Dental Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he gave to appointing a practising NHS community dentist to the Independent Group to review NHS dentistry; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: One of the four review members is a practicing dentist in the community dental service delivering primary care dental services. The four members of the review are drawn from differing backgrounds. Their role is not to represent their 'sector' but to listen to the views of all parties and to look more strategically at the issues affecting national health service dental services and NHS patients.

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of undertaking the review of NHS dentistry in England; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: We are not at this point attempting to fix the final costs of the review as this will depend on the work Professor Steele and his team decide to undertake. However, our initial estimates of the additional costs of the review are around 250,000.

Diabetes: Children

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under the age of 16 have been diagnosed with diabetes; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Data for the number of children of school age diagnosed with diabetes are not available. However, estimates suggest there are some 20,000 children with diabetes in England (the vast majority type 1 diabetes), and some experts suggest that there may be up to 1,000 children with type 2 diabetes in England.

Drugs: Misuse

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 10 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1898W, on drugs: misuse, how many people were discharged from treatment for drug misuse, broken down by discharge reason, in 2007-08; how many people left treatment in 2007-08; and how many people returned to drug treatment having previously been discharged as having  (a) completed treatment,  (b) completed treatment drug free and  (c) completed treatment and been referred on.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the number of individuals discharged from structured treatment for drug misuse, by discharge reason, for 2007-08. These data are taken from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) statistical release 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008, published by the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA).
	
		
			  Discharge reason  Percentage  Number 
			 Treatment completed drug free 11 7,324 
			 Treatment completed 25 17,306 
			 Referred on 16 10,811 
			 Total Successful Discharges 51 35,441 
			
			 Dropped out/left 28 19,591 
			 Prison 6 4,240 
			 Other 4 2,817 
			 Treatment declined by client 3 2,169 
			 Treatment withdrawn/breach of contract 3 2,078 
			 Moved away 2 1,605 
			 Died 1 784 
			 Not known(1) 1 520 
			 No appropriate treatment available 1 367 
			 Total (individuals discharged)  69,612 
			 Missing/inconsistent data  30 
			 Total including missing/inconsistent data  69,642 
			 (1) That is where agency staff indicated that they did not know the reason for discharge 
		
	
	Data on individuals in structured drug and alcohol treatment are collected by the NTA via the NDTMS, using the following definitions for successful discharge reasons:
	'Treatment completed drug free' refers to an individual, who the treatment provider believes has completed their treatment no longer dependent on their drug of misuse and is not using any other illegal drugs.
	'Treatment completed' refers to an individual, who the treatment provider believes has completed their treatment no longer dependent on their drug of misuse, but who may be using drugs in a non-dependent way.
	'Referred on' refers to an individual who, on completion of a Tier 3 or 4 service, is transferred to a Tier 2 service or support services such as housing support or employment support.
	Information on the number of individuals who have re-entered structured drug treatment, after having been discharged from structured treatment for drug misuse, is not routinely calculated.

Health Education: Parents

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many parentcraft sessions were provided at  (a) Leeds General Infirmary and  (b) St James's Hospital in each month of the last two years.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. The Department advocates local decision making in designing appropriate services that fit with the ethos of woman-centred care, including the way in which parentcraft classes are provided locally.

Health Professions: Manpower

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals qualified as medical staff in the UK in each year since 1997; and what proportion of these currently work in the NHS.

Ann Keen: The number of individuals who graduated medical education each year since 1997 is shown in the following table. However figures for UK graduates prior to 2000-01 are not available.
	
		
			  Academic year  Graduate output (England)  Graduate output (UK) 
			 1997-98 3,261  
			 1998-99 3,097  
			 1999-2000 3,373  
			 2000-01 3,286 4,269 
			 2001-02 3,280 4,450 
			 2002-03 3,522 4,641 
			 2003-04 3,734 4,805 
			 2004-05 3,935 5,176 
			 2005-06 4,376 5,576 
			 2006-07 4,904 6,208 
			 2007-08 5,569 6,873 
		
	
	It is not possible to say what proportion currently work in the national health service as this information is not collected. However, the following table shows the number of house officers/foundation one posts since 1997. These figures show that there has been sufficient opportunities in the NHS to meet the medical school outputs.
	
		
			  House officer and foundation programme year 1 
			   Number 
			 1997 3,398 
			 1998 3,496 
			 1999 3,606 
			 2000 3,691 
			 2001 3,742 
			 2002 4,010 
			 2003 4,003 
			 2004 4,273 
			 2005 4,663 
			 2006 4,905 
			 2007 5,240

Injuries: Offensive Weapons

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he was first informed by the NHS Information Centre of the publication of data relating to patients attending hospital with knife wounds, provided to 10 Downing Street.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 162W.

Learning Disability

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged between 14 and 18 years had a profound and multiple learning disability in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The Department does not hold this information centrally.

Maternity Services

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what external  (a) inspection and  (b) monitoring of maternity care at (i) Leeds General Infirmary and (ii) St. James's Hospital has taken place in the last two years; what recommendations were made; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: There have been three external reports into maternity services at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in the last two years. These include the Yorkshire and the Humber Local Supervising Authority Supervision and Midwifery Practice Audit 2007-08, the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) pilot assessment against the revised CNST Maternity Clinical Risk Management Standards in September 2008 and the Healthcare Commission Review of Maternity Services 2007.
	Full copies of the resulting reports can be obtained direct from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
	It is the responsibility of strategic health authorities to performance manage primary care trusts and NHS trusts on behalf of the Department against local operational plans.

Maternity Services

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints on maternity care provided at  (a) Leeds General Infirmary and  (b) St. James's Hospital have been received by (i) Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and (ii) his Department in each month of the last two years.

Ann Keen: The Department does not hold information about complaints received at individual NHS organisations. This information can be obtained from the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust directly.
	Due to the way in which correspondence is logged, details regarding complaints received by the Department about maternity services at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Midwives

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which districts in the Yorkshire and Humberside strategic health authority area  (a) have and  (b) have not achieved the Healthcare Commission's recommended ratio of midwives to deliveries.

Ann Keen: Strategic health authority maternity workforce plans are based on delivering safe care and their commitment to Maternity Matters (published on 3 April 2007), a copy of which has already been placed in the Library. Safe levels of midwives to births will vary according to variations such as case mix, local models of service delivery and staffing skill mix.

Midwives

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many full-time equivalent midwife agency staff have been employed at  (a) Leeds General Infirmary and  (b) St. James's Hospital in each month of the last two years;
	(2)  how many full-time equivalent midwives were in post at  (a) Leeds General Infirmary and  (b) St. James's Hospital in each month of the last two years.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the number of qualified midwives and bank staff in the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as at 30 September each specified year.
	
		
			  Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust 
			  Full-time equivalent 
			   Midwives  Of which: bank 
			 2005 309  
			 2006 220 5 
			 2007 287 5 
			  Notes:  1. The figures above reflect data as published each year. However, 2006 data needs to be treated with caution. During the validation process for the 2007 NHS workforce census, Leeds Teaching Hospitals reported that its registered midwives for 2006 should have been 267 and not 215 (excluding bank) as submitted at the time.  2. Full time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.  3. Data Quality: Workforce statistics are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data. Processing methods and procedures are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where this happens, any impact on figures already published will be assessed but unless this is significant at national level they will not be changed. Where there is impact only at detailed or local level this will be footnoted in relevant analyses.   Source:  The Information Centre for health and social care.

NHS: Public Appointments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department has made on the process for appointing the new Strategic Health Authority Medical Directors as announced in the NHS Next Stage Review, High Quality Care for All, published on 30 June 2008.

Ann Keen: The strategic health authorities are making good progress in providing the medical leadership described in 'High quality care for all' and we expect that all will have a medical director in post by April 2009.

NHS: Statistics

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take to ensure that incomplete or unvalidated data returns for NHS bodies made available to Government departments are not used publicly by those departments.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 167-68W.

Patients: Safety

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 26 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 519-22W, on NHS: personal records, how many nutrition-related adverse incidents were recorded in each month between January 2005 and December 2007 in each NHS trust.

Ann Keen: For the period between January 2005 and December 2007, it is estimated that there have been around 68,148 nutrition-related adverse incidents recorded on the reporting and learning system (RLS) at strategic health authority (SHA) level.
	Detailed information on the type and size of incidents is not held or analysed centrally by the Department or the National Patient Safety Agency and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost due to the complexity associated with processing 36 months of data by each trust.

Primary Care Trusts: Manpower

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were employed as  (a) managers and senior managers,  (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and clerical staff in each primary care trust in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Ann Keen: A table showing the number of people that were employed as: managers and senior managers; nurses and midwives; and administrative and clerical staff in each primary care trust as at 30 September 2006 and 2007 has been placed in the Library. The data for 2008 will be published during March 2009.

Quality and Outcomes Framework

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent consideration his Department has given to the variability of rates of exception reporting on quality and outcomes framework (QOF) indicator CHD 08; what his assessment is of the reasons for the range in rates of exception reporting for QOF indicator CHD 08 in each year since the introduction of the framework; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Practices with extremely low or high rates, generally have small numbers of patients. For example, if there is only one patient and that patient is exception reported, then the rate will be 100 per cent. If that patient is not exception reported the rate will be 0 per cent. The highest exception rate for practices with substantial numbers of patients are almost always substantially below 100 per cent.
	The exception rate for coronary heart disease (CHD) 8 for England in 2007-08 was 8.96 per cent. (compared with a rate of 5.26 per cent. across all indicators). The interquartile range of practice level exception rates for CHD 08 was 5.21 per cent. to 11.28 per cent.
	There is evidence that some practices, whether in deprived or more affluent areas, are using exception reporting inappropriately. Manipulating quality and outcomes framework (QOF) data in order to increase rewards without delivering the required level of quality for patients is clearly unacceptableand also unfair on the majority of practices who comply with QOF requirements. Primary care trusts are responsible for verifying evidence of achievement. They should analyse exception rates and recorded prevalence, investigating any outliers, correcting payments where necessary and taking action if they uncover any actual fraud.
	The Government are committed to ensuring in consultation with the profession, that QOF continually develops and supports leading edge quality of care for patients based on best available evidence. We will look at exception reporting and prevalence recording patterns as part of that process.
	A copy of a list of exception reporting by practice on CHD has been placed in the Library.

Shingles

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people over 50 years of age were diagnosed with shingles in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Shingles is not a notifiable disease and the Health Protection Agency does not undertake national surveillance of shingles. Data are available from some sentinel surveillance systems such as the General Practice Research Database (GPRD). A recently published study (Epidemiology and cost of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in the United Kingdom) using data from the GPRD between January 2000 and the end of March 2006 reported an estimated 88,667 shingles cases in England per year in the population aged 50 and above.

Tobacco: Sales

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate the Government has made of the cost to small businesses of proposals to remove cigarette displays in shops.

Dawn Primarolo: The Consultation on the future of tobacco control included a consultation-stage impact assessment that calculated the costs and benefits of removing tobacco displays. This document can be viewed in the consultation document, which has been placed in the Library and is available online at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Closedconsultations/DH_085120.
	A revised regulatory impact assessment, taking into account additional information and evidence received during the consultation process, will be published when the Health Bill is introduced.

Transplant Surgery: Foreigners

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  in which NHS trusts have transplant operations been performed on foreign nationals in the last 12 months; which organs or tissues were transplanted in each case; and how the  (a) trust and  (b) NHS were remunerated for the procedure;
	(2)  whether NHS trusts may refuse to perform transplants for  (a) non-UK citizens and  (b) nationals of EU member states;
	(3)  whether foreign nationals receiving transplants in the UK receive organs and tissues  (a) from their country of origin,  (b) from the UK and  (c) from other countries;
	(4)  how many organs the NHS received from abroad in each of the last 10 years; and how many were successfully transplanted.

Ann Keen: Departmental Directions, issued in September 2005 by authority of the Secretary of State for Health under section 17 of the National Health Service Act 1977 to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), specify that priority for transplants should be given to group 1 patients (mainly people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom or in countries with which the UK has reciprocal health arrangements) rather than group 2 (those not in group 1). Group 1 includes European Union residents. Group 2 patients are only entitled to an organ if there is no one in group 1 who is clinically suitable. It is the responsibility of the consultant registering each patient for transplant to confirm eligibility, and NHSBT and/or transplant centres are then responsible for ensuring organs are correctly allocated based on eligibility information supplied.
	The transplantation of donated organs into non-UK EU residents who qualify for NHS treatment is guided by European law, which effectively regards such patients as having equal access to the NHS. Decisions over accepting a patient on to the transplant waiting list rests with the individual transplant centre. Article 3 of Regulation 1408/71 provides for equality of treatment under the regulation. Therefore health care should be provided in the UK to another European economic area national on the same basis as it would be to a UK national. Under EU Regulation 1408/71 a citizen of a member state can seek prior authorisation (via an E112) from their health authorities to go to another member state for planned state-sector treatment. The decision about whether to authorise a referral is a clinical one by that citizen's member state, taking into account factors such as whether undue delay applies or whether it is a specialist treatment that the home state cannot supply. The citizen's member state covers the cost of the referral.
	Patients receiving transplants in the UK would normally receive organs from UK donors. The exception to this would be organs supplied from elsewhere in the EU under reciprocal arrangements which exist to offer organs to other member states if there is no clinically suitable patient in the member state of origin.
	Table 1 shows organs received from non-UK hospitals imported into UK hospitals and transplanted between 1998 to 2008.
	Table 2 shows organ and ocular tissue transplants in the UK between 1998 to 2008, by trust of transplanting hospital, where the recipient is recorded as being resident outside the UK.
	
		
			  Table 1: Organs from non-UK hospitals into UK hospitals, in the last 10 years 
			   Organs 
			   Imported  Transplanted 
			 1998-99 42 38 
			 1999-2000 14 14 
			 2000-01 6 6 
			 2001-02 10 10 
			 2002-03 15 13 
			 2003-04 4 3 
			 2004-05 12 12 
			 2005-06 24 21 
			 2006-07 9 9 
			 2007-08 4 3 
			 Total 140 129 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Organ and (ocular)( 1)  tissue transplants in the UK where the recipient is recorded as being resident outside the UK( 1) , by trust of transplanting hospital, April 1998 to March 2008 
			   Deceased donor  Living donor  
			  Trust  Kidney  Heart  Lung(s)  Heart/  lungs  Liver  Cornea  Sclera  Kidney  Liver  Total 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust 4   2  6 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust  11 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust 155 1   1 157 
			 Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2)20 20 
			 West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust  11 
			 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust  (3)l 1 3  5 
			 Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust  11 
			 St. Mary's NHS Trust 1   3  4 
			 Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  11 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 97   2 2 101 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1  1 
			 Barts and the London NHS Trust 1 1 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 1 33 2 12  21 
			 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust  22 7   29 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 1 1 
			 Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust  88 
			 Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust  1010 
			 Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust  1  5  6 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Trust (4)28968 357 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 1 3  3  7 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust1  1 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust1  1 
			 North Bristol NHS Trust1  1 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust  11 
			 Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust  11 
			 University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust 36   4  40 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust1  1 
			 The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust  11 
			 Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust1  1 
			 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust5  5 
			 Lothian University Hospital NHS Trust 2 2 
			 Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust  11 
			 Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust  11 
			 Total 5 4 1 3 603 57 9 42 71 795 
			 (1) Ocular tissue is the only tissue which is traced back to a patient. Residents of the Republic of Ireland are not included in these figures. (2) Includes one liver/kidney/pancreas transplant. (3) 'Domino' donor. (4) Includes one liver/kidney transplant.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Corporate Communications

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what payments his Department has made to Corporate Communications in each of the last five years.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has made the following payments to the Central Office of Information for work undertaken by its corporate communications section in the last five years:
	
		
			   
			   Amount (excluding VAT) 
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 35,975 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 0 
			 2007-08 29,270

Departmental Consultants

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many external consultants work for his Department.

Ivan Lewis: In the 2007-08 financial year, the Department for International Development (DFID) engaged 201 external consultants centrally. This figure includes contracts with profit and non profit companies, Civil Society Organisations, universities and research institutes. It does not include consultants engaged directly by DFID Departments or overseas offices under delegated contracting authority, as to compile this information would incur disproportionate costs.

Departmental Contracts

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what payments his Department had made on behalf of CDC to  (a) LM,  (b) Financial Dynamics,  (c) Cubitt Consulting,  (d) Bell Pottinger and  (e) Merlin in each of the last five years; and what the purpose of each payment was.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development has made no payments on behalf of CDC to any of the companies listed in the last five years.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many  (a) letters and  (b) e-mails received by his Department had not been responded to as at 15 December 2008.

Ivan Lewis: The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to letters from Members and Peers. Information relating to 2008 will be published as soon as it has been collated.
	In respect of e-mails received by DFID, it is not possible to provide this information without incurring disproportionate cost.
	DFID also publishes information on letters and e-mails from members of the public and organisations in its Annual Report. Information relating to 2007 is available to view in section 10.12 at:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Pubs/files/departmental-report/2008/Chapter10.pdf

Departmental Databases

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library a copy of the list of contents of his Department's PRISM database.

Douglas Alexander: A copy of the list of contents of DFID's PRISM database will be placed in the Library.

Departmental Energy

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of energy it wastes.

Michael Foster: The Government's Delivery Plan for 'Sustainable Procurement and Operations on the Government Estate', published in August 2008, provides a full account of the initiatives departments are taking to reduce their energy waste. The Government have committed to updating the delivery plan on a six monthly basis, and the first of these updates was published on 18 December 2008.

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many  (a) page hits and  (b) visitors his Department's website received in 2007-08.

Ivan Lewis: Statistics for the main Department for International Development (DFID) website for 2007-08:
	Page views: 5,617,604
	Unique visitors: 898,012

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost was of maintaining his Department's website for the 2007-08 financial year; and what the forecast cost is of maintaining websites within his responsibility in the 2008-09 financial year.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Website  Cost () 
			 2007-08 DFID main site (www.dfid.gov.uk ) 120,420 
			 2008-09  130,423

Departmental Publications

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Selby of 6 February 2007,  Official Report, column 768W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the corporate communications strategy.

Michael Foster: The 2005 Strategy referred to by the hon. Member has been superseded by the September 2008 publication Communication Matters. This is available on the DFID website, and a copy will be placed in the Library.
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/commsstrategy.pdf

Departmental Recruitment

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reason the targets for the recruitment of  (a) women to top management posts,  (b) ethnic minority staff and  (c) disabled staff in his Department differ from those set for the Civil Service overall.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) values diversity and is committed to ensuring that this is reflected in our recruitment and selection processes. DFID welcome applications for posts from all parts of the community. In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Code selection is on merit following fair and open competition. We do not set specific targets for recruitment.

Developing Countries: Drownings

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what work his Department has undertaken to reduce deaths by drowning in the developing world; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of deaths by drowning in the developing world in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) has no specific programmes targeted to reduce the number of deaths by drowning. However, DFID makes significant investments in public health and education in developing countries, both of which will help improve accident prevention.
	The UK Government do not make its own estimates of cause-specific mortality. The World Health Organisation (WHO) publishes information on cause-specific mortality for countries, regions and globally. The latest available estimates are for 2002 and show that an estimated 376,000 people drowned, making it the third leading cause of unintentional injury death globally after road traffic injuries and falls. These global burden of disease figures are an under-estimate of all drowning deaths, since they exclude drowning due to floods (cataclysms), boating and water transport. The vast majority (approximately 97 per cent.) of all drowning deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries.

Overseas Aid: Emergency Services

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the reasons were for the decision that search and rescue capability for disasters overseas will be provided to his Department by UK fire and rescue services; and if he will place in the Library the terms of the agreement between his Department and UK fire and rescue services on the provision of this service.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) needed to streamline its working arrangements with UK voluntary search and rescue groups, and place our partnership with them for humanitarian services on a similar footing to the arrangements we have with other humanitarian organisations. The voluntary groups were unable to reach agreement. However, we still needed to find a more efficient and workable arrangement and agreed with the UK Fire and Rescue Service that it would take over responsibility for organising the overseas search and rescue capability we require in disaster response, including supplementing its capacity by commissioning voluntary groups as and when required.
	The terms of this agreement are set out in correspondence between DFID and the UK Fire and Rescue Service, copies of which I will place in the Library.

Overseas Aid: Emergency Services

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the meetings that officials from his Department have had with  (a) the UK International Search and Rescue Group and  (b) UK fire and rescue services on the provision of overseas search and rescue services in the last 12 months.

Michael Foster: DFID officials met the UK International Search and Rescue Group (UKISARG), with colleagues from the UK Fire and Rescue Service, on 9 and 31 January, 4 March and 6 June 2008. DFID and UK Fire and Rescue Service colleagues additionally met once in the summer of 2008 and again on 8 October and 6 November 2008.

Overseas Aid: Emergency Services

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what processes are in place to co-ordinate the  (a) overall management and  (b) operational management of overseas search and rescue services between his Department and UK fire and rescue services.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have agreed that the DCLG UK Fire and Rescue Service will supply, co-ordinate and manage UK search and rescue operations if required by DFID in its overseas disaster response. The UK Fire and Rescue Service may draw on the services of UK voluntary search and rescue groups if required.
	DFID retains overall lead on overseas disaster response, tasking and giving strategic direction to the UK Fire and Rescue Service for any search and rescue component.

Overseas Aid: Emergency Services

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will publish a breakdown by main budget heading of his Department's expenditure on overseas search and rescue operations for each of the past three years; and how much is expected to be spent on such operations in each of the next three years.

Michael Foster: There has been no requirement for the Department for International Development (DFID) to support overseas search and rescue operations since the Pakistan earthquake in October 2005. Should any disaster occur in the coming years requiring international assistance with search and rescue DFID will be ready to contribute assistance.
	We are in the process of agreeing a multi-annual budget with the UK Fire and Rescue Service.

Overseas Aid: Wildlife Conservation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department funded aimed at protecting endangered species in developing countries in 2007.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises the importance of biodiversity conservation to its poverty reduction efforts and continues to channel significant financial support to the sector through a range of mechanisms. DFID is responsible for UK contributions to the Global Environment Facility (GEF)the financial mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In 2007-08 DFID provided 35 million to the GEFof which one-third is allocated to biodiversity conservation. DFID has Partnership Programme Agreements (PPAs) with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and International Institution of Environment and Development (IIED). In 2007-08 DFID provided 3.699 million to WWF and 1.793 million (2007-08) to IIED.
	In addition to the PPAs, DFID support to organisations engaged in the protection of endangered species in 2007-08 included; 281,000 (2007-08) to the Royal Society for Protection of Birds, 142,312 (2007-08) to Bird Life International and 80,587 (2007-08) to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
	Other areas of our work that contribute indirectly to endangered species protection include our advice to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)particularly on financing conservation, and on forest and fisheries governance. We are developing a new research programme we are developing on Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) (30 million over five years), and have recently contributed to International Crop Diversity Trust (10 million) and the Congo Basin Forest Fund (60 million over three years).

Overseas Aid: Wildlife Conservation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department allocated to overseas conservation organisations in 2007.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has partnership programme agreements (PPAs) with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and International Institution of Environment and Development (MED). In 2007-8 DFID provided 3.699 million to WWF and 1.793 million (2007-8) to MED.
	In addition to the PPAs, DFID support to overseas conservation organisations in 2007-8 also included; 281,000 (2007-8) to the Royal Society for Protection of Birds, 142,312 (2007-8) to Bird Life International and 80,587 (2007-8) to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Pakistan: Education

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if his Department will assist Pakistan to broaden the curriculum of madrassahs; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: While support from the Department for International Development (DFID) does not specifically focus on broadening the curriculum of madrassas, our education programmes will assist Pakistan's ambitious education reforms, which include measures to expand the national curriculum. The new curriculum will be reflected in textbooks and improved quality of teaching in both public and private schools, including madrassas. DFID support to build up the capacity within provincial education departments will also ensure better state regulation of all schools, including madrassas, to meet minimum standards of quality education.

St Helena: Airports

Meg Munn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  for what reasons there have been a pause in negotiations on the development of the airport on St. Helena;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of St Helena of a delay in the development of the airport;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the population of St Helena of a delay in the development of an airport on the island;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs before taking the decision to pause the negotiations on the development of the airport on St Helena;
	(5)  what reassessment he has made of the likely effects of the delay in developing the airport on St Helena on his Department's future expenditure on assisting the people of that island;
	(6)  what discussions he has had with the Foreign Secretary on the decision to pause the negotiations on the development of the airport on St Helena.

Michael Foster: No decision has yet been made on the project.
	The pause is to allow analysis and discussion, including with ministerial colleagues, of the affordability of options and their implications for access to St. Helena in light of the changed economic limatec.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many new Academy Schools were opened in 2008.

Jim Knight: 47 academies were opened in 2008. A further three opened this January.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans his Department has for the future of the Building Schools for the Future programme; and if he will make a statement.

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has for the management of waves 7 to 15 of the Building Schools for the Future Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: I aim to announce the revised national programme for Building Schools for the Future shortly, based on the revised expressions of interest which authorities submitted by 30 November 2008. The most highly prioritised projects, which will access funding starting from 2011-12, should enter the programme later in 2009 where they demonstrate that they are ready to deliver.

Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what monitoring his Department undertakes of the speed with which local authorities  (a) submit care orders for processing through the courts and  (b) transfer children in their care or custody into foster homes.

Beverley Hughes: It is for local authorities with social services responsibilities to determine the point at which an application is made to the court for an order under section 31 of the Children Act 1989. Each application will depend upon the unique circumstances of the individual case with which they are dealing. In some cases, it will be appropriate for an order to be sought immediately regarding a child with whom the local authority will not previously have had contact. In other cases, social services may have been involved with a family over many years before concerns arise which make a care order under section 31 appropriate. Information on the time elapsed before the application of care orders is therefore not collected centrally.
	Children entering local authority care are moved into a placement immediately. The majority of children entering care are immediately placed with foster carers. Of the 23,000 children who started to be looked after during the year ending 31 March 2008, 17,300 were placed with foster carers immediately.

Children in Care: Young Offenders

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Stafford of 11 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1067-8W, on children in care: crime, what the estimated total cost of the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders has been since its inception.

Beverley Hughes: The funding provided by the Government to NACRO to support their work on reducing offending by young people, including by looked after children, is summarised in the following table. This also includes details of funding provided to NACRO for a short-term project to produce guidance about setting up and managing effective remand foster care provision.
	
		
			  000 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  Total 2004-07 
			 NACROcore funding 140 100 75  
			 Remand fostering project 50
			 Total 190 100 75 365

Children: Poverty

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made in the pilot projects designed to test new and innovative approaches to tackling child poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Steady progress is being made. Two projectstax credit advisers in job centres and the family intervention projectsare already operational and another, the Work Focused Services pilot, is planned to go live at the end of the month.
	We are currently considering the next tranche of pilot projects and we will be announcing the successful applicants shortly.

Children: Protection

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps his Department has taken in schools aimed at protecting children from domestic abuse.

Beverley Hughes: Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education (2006) makes clear that everyone in the education service should help keep children and young people safe. They should do this by identifying those who are suffering, or likely to suffer significant harm, and take appropriate action with the aim of making sure they are kept safe both at home an in the education setting.
	Through the school curriculum children are supported to develop their capacity to empathise, show respect and form positive relationships with other people. Schools have specifically reported less conflict, calmer classrooms and better relationships as a result. As part of the National Delivery Plan for Domestic Violence the DCSF continues to work with the Home Office and in June 2008, new materials were launched specifically for schools and for young people to raise awareness of forced marriage. These were sent to all secondary schools, pupil referral units, local authorities and Local Safeguarding Children Boards.
	To support the most vulnerable children, including those whose childhood is being ruined by abuse of any kind, the DCSF is providing 30 million to support the expansion and integration of the NSPCC's listening services. This money will allow the NSPCC to expand their services significantly so that more children can be given the advice and help that can be so important. The Government are also investing 102.5 million over 2008-11 in the deployment of parent support advisers (PSAs) with over 1,500 PSAs and similar professionals currently working in schools. These professionals support families across a range of issues, which can include domestic abuse, and in particular focus on prevention and early intervention.

Children's Centres

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children's centres there are in England.

Beverley Hughes: There are currently 2,920 Sure Start children's centres in England providing access to services to over 2.3 million children and their families.
	By 2010 there will be at least 3,500 centres, one for every community, offering permanent and universal provision to help ensure that every child gets the best start in
	life.

Connexions

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Connexions services in targeting young people not in education, employment or training to ensure that they have the information, advice and guidance required to understand their options.

Beverley Hughes: In 2005, my Department published its report of the End to End Review of Careers Education and Guidance which concluded that Connexions has made good progress with targeted services for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), or at risk of becoming NEET. This follows similarly positive findings by Ofsted in inspections carried out between 2002 and 2004 and from a 2004 survey of young people's views. The recently commissioned Ofsted Thematic Review of Information Advice and Guidance will include a focus on IAG for young people who are not in employment, education or training and on those leaving care and will give us a more up-to-date picture of the effectiveness of these services. In addition, the Department will continue to monitor local authorities' performance in reducing the proportion of 16 to 19-year-olds not in education, employment and training, and where necessary, challenge and support them to secure improvement.

Drugs: Misuse

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made to date under his Department's Drugs: protecting families and communities strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The 10-year drug strategy Protecting families and communities, published in February 2008, set out a series of steps to address the problems associated with young people's misuse of drugs, alcohol and volatile substances. The main action that has already been taken is as follows.
	A review of drug and alcohol education has taken place and, in response to its recommendations, in October 2008 Government committed to review existing guidance on the subject by September 2009 and to conduct an independent review of how its decision to make PSHE statutory status could be translated into a practical way forward.
	To continue helping to prevent drug use among young people (11 to 18) by changing their attitudes and perceptions towards drugs and drug users, a new FRANK Cocaine campaign was launched in December 2008. Awareness of FRANK remains very high: in the latest tracking study (report July 2008) 83 per cent. of young people were aware of the campaign. This figure is unchanged from 2007.
	A cross-government working group has been set up, informing thinking for next Drug Strategy Action Plan, measuring impact of existing interventions with at risk families, identifying research priorities and informing the rollout of Think Family reforms at local level.
	The drug strategy committed to publish guidance to help the commissioning and delivery of treatment services with a greater focus on the needs of parents and families, and to that effect the National Treatment Agency (NTA) published carers' guidance in October 2008. The NTA will also shortly be publishing updated commissioning guidance for local partnerships which will include a specific section on commissioning appropriate services for parental drug users, including pregnant drug users. The document will also provide guidance to commissioners on supporting families around drug use and involving them in the commissioning system.
	To meet our commitment to provide intensive support to substance misusing parents through a range of recently established family interventions, targeting families at risk, the substance misuse agenda has been included in remit letter for local parenting support advisers; Family Pathfinder status has been awarded to 14 areas, one focussing on substance misuse; and, substance misuse has been included in the broad remit for parenting and early intervention projects. Furthermore, family intervention pilots (FIP) have been extended to 500 further families affected by substance misuse. NTA are working with DCSF in the development of the child poverty family intervention projects in 10 pilot areas during 2008-09. This will be rolled out to further areas in the next two years.
	To meet our commitment toward encouraging better take-up of free child care for three and four-year-olds (and two-year-olds in pilot areas) to improve access to treatment for parents, the NTA will be publishing family friendly treatment guidance for commissioners and providers in spring 2009. NTA is also continuously working on ensuring that parents seeking access to treatment are aware of free provision.

Early Years Capital Grant

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of the Early Years Capital Grant will be made available to  (a) private, voluntary and independent day care settings and  (b) maintained settings in the 2008-11 spending period.

Beverley Hughes: The Quality and Access Capital Grant has three aims:
	1. To improve the quality of the learning environment in early years settings to support delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with a particular emphasis on improving play and physical activities, and Information and Computer Technology (ICT) resources;
	2. To ensure that all children, including disabled children, are able to access provision; and,
	3. To enable providers in the private, voluntary and independent sectors to deliver the extension to the free offer for 3 and 4 year olds and to do so flexibly.
	Our expectation is that the majority of the grant is used to improve the quality of the environment in private, voluntary and independent (PVI) early years and child care settings, both to support higher quality experiences for young children and to ensure that all children can access services and benefit fully from them.
	However, spending on the maintained sector is not precluded and we have not set a percentage split between PVI and maintained settings. Providing that spend is in line with the three aims set out above, it is for local authorities to decide how to distribute the grant to providers.

Entry to Learning Programme

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent progress has been made in the Entry to Learning Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Entry to Learning pilot programme was announced in the Children's Plan in December 2007. It builds on the successful work that is already done by innovative third sector and local authority funded provision in restoring the confidence and self-esteem of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). The programme aims to improve young people's progression from this provision to more formal learning to ensure that they are able to advance and gain the skills and qualifications they need to succeed.
	Having developed the Entry to Learning programme with input from the Learning and Skills Council and a number of experienced third sector providers, we invited all local areas to express an interest in taking part in the pilot in July 2008. We received over 30 expressions of interest and selected four local areas for the first phase of the pilot: Brighton and Hove (with East Sussex), Birmingham, Sandwell and Lancashire.
	Working closely with these areas and building on lessons from the Activity Agreement and Allowance Pilot, we developed a detailed specification for Entry to Learning to guide local areas as they developed their plans for implementing the programme.
	Grant letters were issued to all four local areas in November 2008, formally beginning the pilots and allowing the local areas to recruit project managers for the programme. All four areas submitted detailed implementation plans, which were signed off by my Department in early December. The local teams are now engaged in delivery against these plans, recruiting the trusted adults who will support young people through this programme.

Families Group

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent progress the Families Group has made towards meeting its objectives; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The family is fundamentally important to society and is where most individuals get the support they need to progress throughout their lives. The Children's Plan set out the Department's strategic direction for supporting families to ensure that children are given the best possible start in life. This includes empowering parents to make informed choices; helping families out of poverty, while maintaining a work life balance for parents and families; supporting strong couple relationships; increasing the availability of parenting programmes and support to help parents improve their ability to be effective parents; and providing support to families who are struggling or where parental problems (such as drug abuse or mental health) get in the way of positive parenting to get the family back on track.
	The Children's Plan One Year On set out recent progress towards these aims. This includes refocusing efforts to ensure that every local authority now has a parenting strategy which set out how services are available across a continuum of need from universal services through to very targeted interventions for the most vulnerable families; ensuring that the workforce understands the value of parental engagement and the specific role they can and should play; and introducing a single commissioner to lead on developing local services for parents. We have also recently announced extra support for separating parents and their children to cope better with the impact of parental separation and conflict. The Government have also made significant progress in tackling child poverty and supporting working parents through flexible working, extended maternity leave entitlement and the introduction of paternity leave.

Family Pathfinder Programme

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent progress has been made in the Family Pathfinder pilots; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Since the announcement of the successful Family Pathfinder areas in May 2008 all 15 have begun to implement their plans to test the Think Family model. The Pathfinders are testing innovations on a number of themes including whole family assessment, better information sharing, joint commissioning and multi-agency working in order to better identify and work with families with multiple and complex problems. The Pathfinder local authorities have all attended two events to share ideas and best practice and to gather learning on how to implement the Think Family model. DCSF have commissioned an evaluation of the pathfinders which will produce an interim report in the spring.

Foster Care

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will publish his Department's  (a) draft contract for independent fostering and  (b) standard contract for residential care.

Beverley Hughes: The national contract for the placement of children in independent foster care was published on 3 October 2008. Since then it has been available from the Department's website at:
	www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/IG00316/.
	The national contract for the placement of children in residential homes was published in early November 2007. Since then it has been available from the Department's website at:
	www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/resources-and-practice/IG00315/.

Further Education: Admissions

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the September Guarantee in meeting its objectives; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Figures collected by Connexions services show that 94.2 per cent. of 16-year-olds who completed compulsory education in 2008 said that they wanted to remain in learning, and received an offer under the September Guarantee. This is an increase from 91.8 per cent. in 2007, the first year of the Guarantee.
	The Guarantee was extended to 17-year-olds in 2008, and almost 80 per cent. of those who had been engaged on a short course or who were not in education, employment or training (NEET), also received an offer.
	Statistics on the proportion of young people participating in learning, or who are NEET, are published annually by DCSF. The proportion of 16-year-olds in learning has risen steadily over the last seven years, with an acceleration in 2007 when the September Guarantee was first introduced. It is not possible to separate out the effects of the Guarantee from other factors, but feedback from local areas suggests that it had a significant impact on supporting this improvement. 2008 participation and NEET statistics are due to be published in June 2009.
	Successful delivery of the Guarantee is a key step towards preparing local authorities, and their partners, for the raising of the age at which young people will participate in education or training to 17 in 2013 and 18 in 2015.

GCSE

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils gained five A* to C grade GCSEs including English and mathematics but excluding equivalents in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of pupils achieving five GCSEs only at grades A*-C including English  and maths  Percentage of pupils achieving 5 GCSEs only at grades A*-C including English and maths 
			 2008 295,170 45.2 
			 2007 286,616 43.7 
			 2006 288,761 44.5 
			 2005 279,200 43.9 
			 2004 271,723 42.2 
			 2003 258,273 41.5 
			 2002 253,774 41.8 
			 2001 244,645 40.5 
			 2000 231,657 39.9 
			 1999 224,089 38.6 
			 1998 212,305 36.9 
			 1997 209,075 35.6 
			  Notes: 1. The 2008 data are provisional and subject to change  2. The data for 2005-08 are based on pupils at the end of KS4 and years 1997 to 2004 are based on 15-year-old pupils at the start of the academic year.

GCSE: Gifted Children

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of gifted and talented pupils did not obtain five GCSEs at grades A* to C, including English and mathematics, in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: In 2007, a total of 11,628 (14.3 per cent.) gifted and talented pupils did not achieve five GCSEs (or equivalent) at grades A* to C, including English and mathematics. These figures relate to pupils at the end of key stage 4 in all maintained schools.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 19 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 635-6W, on the General Certificate of Secondary Education, how many and what percentage of pupils in the maintained, mainstream sector achieved five GCSEs including a modern language GCSE at grades A* to C in each year since 2004, broken down by index of multiple deprivation deciles.

Jim Knight: The information requested can be provided only at a disproportionate cost. The information relating to the proportion of pupils achieving A*-C in one Modern Foreign Language GCSE in 2008 is available in the following table:
	
		
			  Pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieving A*-C in a modern foreign language GCSE or equivalent by IDACI deprivation decile of known pupil residence, 2008( 1) 
			  IDACI decile  Number of pupils achieving A*-C in one Modern Foreign Language  Percentage of pupils achieving A*-C in one Modern Foreign Language 
			 0 -10% most deprived 10,023 14.6 
			 10-20% 11,101 17.5 
			 20-30% 11,708 19.8 
			 30-40% 13,077 22.8 
			 40-50% 14,350 25.5 
			 50-60% 15,914 29.1 
			 60-70% 17,506 32.1 
			 70-80% 19,352 35.0 
			 80-90% 21,800 38.5 
			 90-100% least deprived 26,299 45.4 
			 (1) Provisional.  Source: National Pupil Database

Head Teachers: Sick Leave

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many days of sick leave head teachers took in each of the last five years in each local authority area, broken down by type of illness.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Languages: GCSE

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the Answer of 8 November 2006,  Official Report, column 1742W, on GCSEs, how many and what proportion of pupils achieved GCSEs at A* to C in two foreign languages in each year since 1996.

Jim Knight: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of 15-year-olds  Percentage achieving two or more GCSEs in modern foreign languages at grades A*-C 
			 2008 653,892 4.7 
			 2007 656,392 4.7 
			 2006 649,905 5.0 
			 2005 636,771 5.3 
			 2004 643,560 5.3 
			 2003 622,122 5.4 
			 2002 606,554 5.8 
			 2001 603,318 5.9 
			 2000 580,393 5.9 
			 1999 580,972 6.2 
			 1998 575,210 6.5 
			 1997 586,766 7.0 
			 1996 594,035 7.3 
			  Notes: 1. The data are based on 15-year-old pupils at the start of the academic year. 2. The 2008 data are provisional and subject to change 3. The data were taken from the Achievement and Attainment Tables' data.

National Curriculum Tests

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils in pupil referral units  (a) were entered for key stage 3 tests,  (b) were working below the level of the key stage 3 tests,  (c) did not register a level in the key stage 3 tests,  (d) registered level 1,  (e) registered level 2 and  (f) registered level (i) 3, (ii) 4, (iii) 5, (iv) 6, (v) 7 and (vi) 8 in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The requested information is shown as follows:
	The following tables show the number and percentage of pupils in pupil referral units at each level in English, mathematics and science for the last three years, 2006 to 2008.
	
		
			  KS3 test results for pupils in pupil referral units, 2006 to 2008( 1) 
			Number of pupils at each level 
			   Subject  A  T  B  N  2  3  4  5  6  7 ( 2) 8  Total eligible pupils 
			 2008 English 180 24 459 215  117 236 141 13 3  1,388 
			  Mathematics 245 23 144 47 18 334 467 262 86 12 0 1,638 
			  Science 333 25 204 85 39 301 495 196 34 2  1,714 
			   
			 2007 English 505 18 325 313 0 117 252 165 11 3 0 1,709 
			  Mathematics 413 23 112 37 25 328 524 244 83 17 1 1,807 
			  Science 395 27 200 83 45 289 509 201 50 2 0 1,801 
			   
			 2006 English 438 17 416 272 0 128 280 170 17 3  1,741 
			  Mathematics 334 13 103 28 18 276 544 315 94 13 0 1,738 
			  Science 303 22 274 78 57 316 430 225 43 2  1,750 
		
	
	
		
			Percentage of pupils at each level 
			   Subject  A  T  B  N  2  3  4  5  6  7 ( 2) 8  Total eligible pupils 
			 2008 English 13 2 33 15  8 17 10 1 0  100 
			  Mathematics 15 1 9 3 1 20 29 16 5 1 0 100 
			  Science 19 1 12 5 2 18 29 11 2 0  100 
			   
			 2007 English 30 1 19 18  7 15 10 1 0  100 
			  Mathematics 23 1 6 2 1 18 29 14 5 1 0 100 
			  Science 22 1 11 5 2 16 28 11 3 0  100 
			   
			 2006 English 25 1 24 16  7 16 10 1 0  100 
			  Mathematics 19 1 6 2 1 16 31 18 5 1 0 100 
			  Science 17 1 16 4 3 18 25 13 2 0  100 
			 (1) 2008 results are from provisional data. (2) Level 8 can only be achieved in teacher assessments and the mathematics test only.  Notes: A represents pupils who were absent. T represents pupils working at the level of the assessment but unable to access the test. B represents pupils who were assessed by teacher assessment only. N represents pupils who took the tests but failed to register a level.

National Curriculum Tests

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on contracting a private company to provide pre-tests to the  (a) key stage 2 and  (b) key stage 3 tests for 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the administration of the Key Stage 2 (KS2) and Key Stage 3 (KS3) national curriculum tests, including pre-testing. Contracts are inclusive of development, pre-testing, marking and analysis and equating costs. QCA advise that specific costs for pre-tests are not available.

National Curriculum Tests

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) key stage 1 and  (b) key stage 2 test results were appealed against in 2008; what proportion of those appeals led to the results being changed; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for administering national curriculum tests. Key stage 1 consists of a series of tests and tasks administered by teachers and these are not marked externally. At key stage 2, the NAA has in place arrangements for marking to be reviewed where a school believes that it is inaccurate to the extent that a pupil has received an incorrect national curriculum level. The NAA is currently managing the final phase of the reviews process and expects that all results will be issued to schools in the coming weeks. The great majority of schools have already received results for their review applications. Once the final phase of review marking is complete, NAA will be able to provide full data on the volume and outcome of reviews for the 2008 national curriculum test cycle.

National Curriculum Tests

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which key individuals from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority led Project Tornado referred to in paragraph 2.6 of the Sutherland Inquiry report HC 62.

Jim Knight: The National Assessment Agency (NAA) Managing Director had oversight of the procurement process and chaired associated project boards.
	The NAA Operations Director was the Senior Responsible Officer for Project Tornado.

National Curriculum Tests: Contracts

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Statement of 16 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 991-93, on the Sutherland Inquiry, on what dates between June 2007 to July 2008 staff of his Department drew their own assessments of risks in the Key Stage Testing Contract to the attention of Ministers in his Department; what concerns were raised; what action Ministers took in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: As Lord Sutherland reported, DCSF had comprehensive arrangements in place to monitor QCA's performance, including good project and risk management processes which provided thorough coverage across the Department's business. Between June 2007 and early July 2008 (when the NAA alerted Ministers to the likely delays to the release of test data), DCSF officials reported their assessment of risks to DCSF Ministers on several occasions. Ministers also received regular updates on national curriculum test delivery from the QCA and NAA, who continued to reassure Ministers as late as 17 June that delivery remained on track. Ministers responded to these assessments by seeking reassurance from QCA and NAA that they had suitable action in hand to secure delivery of their contractors' obligations.

National Curriculum Tests: Contracts

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on what occasions during 2008 referred to in the Sutherland Inquiry reference: 4.137, officials from his Department escalated their assessment of risk associated with the marking of key stage 3 and key stage 2 national curriculum tests to Ministers; and what subsequent action Ministers took on each such occasion.

Jim Knight: As Lord Sutherland reported, DCSF had comprehensive arrangements in place to monitor QCA's performance, including good project and risk management processes which provided thorough coverage across the Department's business. Between January 2008 and early July (when the NAA alerted Ministers to the likely delays to the release of test data), DCSF officials reported their assessment of risks to DCSF Ministers on several occasions. Thereafter, Ministers also received regular, and at least weekly, updates on national curriculum test delivery from the QCA and NAA, who continued to reassure Ministers as late as 17 June that delivery remained on track. Ministers responded to these assessments by seeking reassurance from QCA and NAA that they had suitable action in hand to secure delivery of their contractors' obligations.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Location

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost of the relocating of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority headquarters to Coventry.

Jim Knight: The current estimate of relocation costs is 48 million. An additional, 16 million provision is shown in the 2007-08 Annual Accounts relating to unoccupied lease obligations for current London offices.
	Given particularly that accommodation costs in the West Midlands are lower than those in central London, the relocation of QCA is expected to deliver cost savings in the long term.
	The 2004 Lyons review recommended that Government make the significant investment required to relocate organisations out of London and the South East, and concluded that there would be positive economic benefits to areas into which organisations were relocated.

Schools: Standards

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how long on average a school placed in special measures spent under those measures in the latest period for which information is available.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the average number of months that primary and secondary schools spend in special measures. The figures are based on the schools that were removed from this Ofsted category during the 2007/08 academic year and the 1997/98 figures are shown for comparison. Pupil referral units and special schools are not included in view of the small numbers involved.
	
		
			   Number of months spent in special measures 
			  Phase  2007/08  1997/98 
			 Primary 18 23 
			 Secondary 20 28 
			  Note: Pupil referral units and special schools not shown in view of the small numbers involved (seven during 2007/08).

Secondary Education

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of secondary schools offer wrap-around care  (a) before school,  (b) after school and  (c) before and after school in each local authority area.

Beverley Hughes: We want all schools to offer access to a core offer of extended services by 2010. Secondary schools are not expected to offer formal wraparound child care. Instead they are expected to provide access to a varied menu of activities such as study support, sports clubs, music tuition, dance, drama and art clubs in a safe place to be, before and after school from 8 am to 6 pm and during the school holidays, in response to demand.
	We are making good progress with local authorities reporting that more than 15,190 schools, around 67 per cent. of all maintained schools including 2,590 secondary (77 per cent.), now providing access to the full core offer and many more already providing access to the varied menu of activities aspect of the core offer.

Specialised Diplomas

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many students who started a new diploma course in September 2008 have since withdrawn from the course; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: There is usually some fluctuation in learner numbers and qualifications at the beginning of the autumn term. We asked local authorities to provide us with diploma learner number information at the end of September, in order to allow for some of the initial fluctuation to have occurred and so to gather more accurate figures. Local authorities told us that just over 12,000 young people started a diploma course this term. We collected this information for funding purposes, and we have not collected revised figures subsequently.

Specialised Diplomas

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the progress of the 14 to 19 Partnerships in planning for the delivery of the entitlement to 17 diploma lines across the country by 2013.

Jim Knight: 14-19 Partnerships provide an assessment of their progress in delivering all areas of the 14-19 reform programme through 14-19 Progress Checks. Progress Checks assess a Partnership's ability to meet the 14-19 entitlement, including delivery of the Diploma entitlement, and help them to identify where they may need to take further action. The latest round of Progress Checks in October 2008 showed that 14-19 Partnerships are making good progress on the delivery of 14-19 reforms, with 89 per cent. of areas rated Green or Amber Green.
	As part of the application process for the Diploma Gateway, 14-19 Partnerships have been asked to outline their strategy for ensuring delivery of the Diploma entitlement by 2013. The results of the Gateway will be available in March.

Vocational Training

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many 16 to 19 year olds are enrolled on an entry to employment programme; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Entry to employment (E2E) is a tailored programme for 16 to 18-year-olds who are not yet ready or able to enter apprenticeship, employment or further education and who are not yet ready to study a qualification at level 2. E2E has been highly successful with over 25,000 young people in learning at any one time. In 2007-08, 54,717 young people started the programme and of the 51,709 who participated on the programme for the minimum length of time of four weeks to around 22 weeks or longer, depending on the requirements of the young person, 27,900 progressed into further education or employment.
	This covers the 2007-08 academic year which are the latest data available from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).
	As part of the 14 to 19 education and skills reforms, we are developing the Foundation Learning Tier (FLT) to create a more coherent set of entry level and level 1 qualifications. FLT progression pathways will offer learning programmes tailored to the needs and aspirations of individuals and have been developed from best practice in E2E programmes. FLT progression pathways are being piloted in 2008-09 and 2009-10, including with some E2E providers, and will be fully evaluated to ensure they meet the needs of learners. When phased piloting is complete, the Foundation Learning Tier will encompass all current LSC funded provision for young people and adults at this level, including E2E programmes.

Young Offenders

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has for the implementation of the Youth Conditional Caution; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: We propose to introduce the Youth Conditional Caution in stages. Pilots for 16 and 17-year-olds will begin in summer 2009. Evaluation of the pilot schemes will inform decisions on national roll out of the Caution for 16 and 17-year-olds and its application to 10 to 15-year-olds. Consultation on the statutory code of practice governing use of the Youth Conditional Caution for 16 and 17-year-olds will begin shortly and I will ensure that the hon. Member receives copies of the consultation documents.

Young People: Alcoholic Drinks

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Youth Alcohol Action Plan in meeting its objectives; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Youth Alcohol Action Plan (YAAP) published on 2 June 2008 set out a comprehensive approach to address the problems associated with young people's alcohol consumption. The key steps that have already been taken are as follows.
	Antisocial behaviour and violent crime related to outdoor drinking by young people is being tackled through the introduction of a number of new initiatives through the Policing and Crime Bill announced in the Queen's Speech in December 2008. Subject to parliamentary approval, this would include the introduction of a new offence of persistently possessing alcohol in a public place by under 18s; increasing the penalty for the offence of consuming alcohol in a designated public place; ensuring that when police confiscate alcohol from under 18s that they also take a record of their name and address and if they are under 16, remove them to a place of safety; and by lowering the age for direction to individuals who represent a risk of disorder powers, so that police can now disperse groups of under 16s.
	The Policing and Crime Bill also would introduce a mandatory code for the alcohol retail industry which will include further action to reduce underage sales; and the offence of selling alcohol to children would be changed from on three or more to two or more different occasions. The Home Office has provided funding to encourage greater take-up and acceptance of the proof of age standards scheme.
	We committed to ensuring that parents were made to be responsible for their children's alcohol related antisocial behaviour, with greater use of acceptable behaviour contracts and parenting contracts. The Home Office will shortly be launching a series of practitioner training workshops to improve the skills of frontline practitioners on the tools and powers at their disposal to tackle alcohol-related harms, which will be followed up by revised guidance to the police, health and children's services in all local areas to strengthen their approach to dealing with young people drinking in public places.
	Targeted work on reducing the harm arising from young people's substance misuse, of which alcohol plays a part particularly with vulnerable young people, is being taken forward through actions set out in the drug strategy, Drugs: Protecting Families and Communities (published in February 2008). This includes improving the specialist treatment available to those under 18s with substance misuse problems, with alcohol dependency the main factor in over 1/3 of all those currently being helped; ensuring a focus on identifying problems early through children's services, including where a child is affected by parental alcohol misuse; and supporting the most vulnerable young people through targeted youth support and substance misuse workers in all youth offending teams. To target families at risk, family intervention pilots (FIP) have been extended to 500 further families affected by substance misuse including alcohol.
	Furthermore, Government have committed to ensuring that young people and their parents are provided with appropriate information to prevent them from suffering from the risks of alcohol use. We will shortly be issuing guidance from the Chief Medical Officer what consists responsible drinking, and we expect to consult with parents and young people on what information and advice they would find useful to their decisions about young people's drinking and to help reduce harms caused by it. We anticipate that consultation on the information and advice will form part of a wider social marketing campaign on young people's drinking.
	A review of drug and alcohol education has taken place and, in response to its recommendations, in October 2008 Government committed to review existing guidance on the subject by September 2009 and to conduct an independent review of how its decision to make PSHE statutory status can be translated into a practical way forward.

Young People: Education

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the percentage of 17 year-olds who will be in education in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Jim Knight: The Learning and Skills Council have published, in their Annual Statement of priorities for 2009-10, projected participation figures for the proportion of 17-year-olds who are expected to be in education and work-based learning for the academic years 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10. These are:
	
		
			   Proportion participating in education or work-based learning at age 17 (percentage) 
			 2007/08 79 
			 2008/09 81 
			 2009/10 84 
		
	
	The Department's Grant letter to the LSC for 2009-10 also stated the ambition to increase the proportion of 17-year-olds in education or training so that 86 per cent. are participating in 2010/11.
	A copy of the LSC's Annual Statement of Priorities, which includes the Grant Letter, can be accessed at:
	www.lsc.gov.uk/aboutus/lscstrategy/statementofpriorities/

Young People: Unemployment

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of young people was not in education, employment or training in 2007.

Beverley Hughes: Estimates of participation in education, training and employment for those aged 16 to 18 are published annually by the Department in a Statistical First Release (SFR) each June and can be found on the Department's website (http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000792/index.shtml). This publication includes the Department's official estimate of the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). At the end of 2007, 9.4 per cent. of 16 to 18-year-olds were NEET.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Arctic

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries' claims to Arctic waters are disputed by  (a) the UK and  (b) other countries.

Gillian Merron: The UK does not have any claims in the Arctic.
	The UK expects that the five coastal states bordering on the Arctic Ocean should act in accordance with the framework of international law, including the law of the sea. The Government note that in their declaration at Ilulissat on 27-29 May 2008 the five states have committed themselves to this framework, as well as to working through the International Maritime Organisation. We welcome this.

Chagos Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he and his predecessors have had with representatives of the Chagossian people in the last 10 years.

Gillian Merron: Officials have been in regular contact with representatives of the Chagossian people in Mauritius, the Seychelles and also in the UK. Ministers have also had meetings with Chagossian representatives based in the UK and in Mauritius.
	As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in his press statement following the Law Lords judgment on 22 October on the Judicial Review of the 2004 BIOT Orders in Council, the Government will keep in close touch with the Chagossian communities.

Chagos Islands

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take in response to the recent House of Lords decision on the Chagos Islanders.

Gillian Merron: Following the House of Lords ruling, the two Orders in Council made for the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) in 2004 stand and provide that no person has a right of abode in BIOT or the right to enter the Territory unless authorised.
	The Government continue to be in close touch with the Chagossian communities and consider carefully future requests to visit the Territory. A group of six Chagossians now resident in Crawley visited Diego Garcia and the outer islands of the British Indian Ocean Territory in November 2008. This visit was organised and funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Climate Change

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional  (a) personnel and  (b) financial resources his Department has allocated to addressing climate change in accordance with the undertaking given in the Written Ministerial Statement of 23 January 2008,  Official Report, column 52WS, on the New Strategic Framework.

David Miliband: In accordance with new Strategic Framework for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, I have substantially increased both the resources devoted to addressing climate change at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The Climate Change and Energy programme budget in the FCO's Strategic Programme Fund has been increased from 4.7 million in FY 2007-08 to 10 million for FY 2008-09, 16 million for FY 2009-10 and 21 million for FY 2010-11.
	In addition, the number of staff working to deliver climate change and energy objectives has also increased. 0.8 million has been provided to create 19 new positions in London. An extra 5.732 million for diplomatic missions in priority countries has created 32.5 new positions for British diplomats on postings and 73 positions for locally-engaged members of staff.
	I have stepped up the frequency of my discussions on climate change with counterparts and will continue to do so, in coordination with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, in advance of the critical UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) Conference of Parties at Copenhagen in December 2009.

Climate Change

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Answer of 26 November 2008, on climate change, 
	(1)  whether there will be any change to  (a) resources and  (b) personnel devoted to the Climate Change and Energy programme in his Department in light of the creation of a Department for Energy and Climate Change;
	(2)  where each of the 73 locally-engaged members of staff are based; with which UK mission they work; and what their responsibilities are;
	(3)  which countries are priorities for his Department's Climate Change and Energy programme; what the  (a) grade and  (b) responsibilities are of the 32.5 new positions for British diplomats; and in which countries they are based;
	(4)  what mechanisms exist for the co-ordination of his Department's Climate Change and Energy programme with the Department for Energy and Climate Change; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: As I referred to in the answer I gave on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 2138W, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has substantially increased the level of resources devoted to addressing climate change. We do not intend to alter this approach following the creation of the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Addressing climate change continues to be a top priority for the Foreign Office and is a key part of Departmental Strategic Objective (DSO) 7.
	The distribution of the new locally-engaged staff and UK-based diplomats to which I referred in my previous answer will be in line with FCO priority countries for HMG's objectives on climate change. These are: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey and the USA. The newly recruited staff are located in: Caracas, Bogota, Lima, Brasilia, Vancouver, Ottawa, Santiago, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, La Paz, Washington and across the US network, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Beijing and across the China network, Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpar, Bangkok, Manila, Tokyo, Seoul, Pretoria, Cape Town, Berlin, Rome and Warsaw. UK-based diplomats have been recruited at grades SMS, D6 and C4. The newly recruited staff have a range of responsibilities which vary depending on the climate change and energy priorities of the mission in which they are based. These priorities are set out in each mission's business plan.
	Members of DECC sit on the FCO's DSO 7 programme board and the Strategic Programme Fund Board, while the FCO sits on the cross-Whitehall International Climate Change and Energy Board, which is chaired by DECC. The International Strategy and Campaigns Unit (ISCU) was also created in early 2008 to co-ordinate HMG policy on aspects of climate change policy. The UK Government are critically aware of the need to ensure our climate change and energy policies are developed and delivered in a coherent manner.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional support the European Union has given to the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo in respect of  (a) equipment,  (b) intelligence and  (c) logistics since renewed fighting began in October 2008.

Gillian Merron: European member states, including the UK, continue to support the UN mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (MONUC) through contributions to the cost of running the mission. The UK also provides military technical expertise to MONUC. The EU has not provided any additional support in these three categories since the resumption of hostilities in DRC. Member states have discussed how best to respond to the UN Secretary General's request for assistance. Humanitarian support from EU member states for the victims of violence in DRC has increased, and the EU is closely engaged in diplomatic efforts to resolve the questions at its root.

Departmental Air Travel

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many official journeys  (a) he and his predecessors and  (b) his officials made by plane in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: I refer you to my answer of 19 November 2008,  Official Report, column 650W which sets out all overseas visits undertaken by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and all FCO Ministers since June 2007 and my predecessor's answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1297W, which states that since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing 500 or more during each financial year. Copies are available in the Library.
	For Ministers below Cabinet rank and officials, collecting the detailed information requested could not be done without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Higher Education

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff in his Department undertook courses funded by the Department for  (a) undergraduate degrees,  (b) postgraduate degrees or diplomas,  (c) Masters degrees,  (d) MBA degrees and  (e) PhD degrees in the last 12 months, broken down by pay band.

Gillian Merron: In 2008, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office human resources directorate provided funding for:
	 (a) Three members of staff at band A, seven members of staff at band B, one member of staff at C4, one member of staff at band D6 and two members of staff at band D7 to study for an undergraduate degree;
	 (b) 18 members of staff at band B3, 12 members of staff at band C4, one member of staff at band C5, five members of staff in band D6, two at band D7 and one senior management officer to study postgraduate diplomas;
	 (c) two members of staff at band C4 to study masters degrees;
	 (d) three members of staff at band B3, five members of staff at band C4, four members of staff at band C5, 17 members of staff in band D6 , to study MBAs
	 (e) no members of staff to study PHDs.
	In addition, it is possible that other directorates in the FCO have funded members of staff to complete courses relating to a specialist area, however we do not keep figures on this and gathering the information would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Hospitality

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on Ministerial hospitality in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06,  (c) 2006-07 and  (d) 2007-08, expressed in current prices.

Gillian Merron: Government hospitality in protocol directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) recorded the following expenditure on official hospitality for all Government Departments, including new stock purchased for the Government wine cellar, for the previous four financial years:
	
		
			
			 2004-05 869,418 
			 2005-06 809,529 
			 2006-07 592,592 
			 2007-08 525,568 
		
	
	The FCO does not maintain a central record of other hospitality expenditure, and to provide this information would incur disproportionate cost. However, all FCO staff are bound by official guidance which ensures that the provision of food and beverages at public expense is appropriate and cost effective.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to ensure that those temporary and permanent employees at the same grade in his Department who are paid at an hourly rate are paid at the same rate.

Gillian Merron: All civil servants permanently employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) receive an annual salary. This is determined by a member of staff s grade, performance and, to some degree, length of service.
	The FCO pays staff whom it employs directly on temporary contracts exactly the same rates of pay as permanent members of staff.
	Some temporary staff are supplied by agencies. These staff are employed and paid by the agency concerned, which then charges a fee to the FCO. Individual agencies determine the rates of pay for their agency staff.

Departmental Secondment

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department have (i) met and (ii) spoken on the telephone to representatives of (A) Anglo American plc, (B) BHP Billiton plc, (C) Rio Tinto plc, (D) Vedanta plc and (E) Xstrata plc since April 2007; and how many staff from each such company have been seconded to his Department in that period.

Gillian Merron: Information is not available on the number of occasions Foreign and Commonwealth Ministers and officials met or were consulted by telephone by representatives of these companies. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	No one from these companies has been seconded to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since April 2007.

Diplomatic Service: Recruitment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria internal selection boards in his Department apply to the selection of heads of mission.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) number 1 and number 2 Selection Boards appoint heads of mission at senior civil service (SCS) level. Members are appointed by virtue of their position, without further criteria for membership of the selection boards. Members of the number 1 selection board are FCO board members, that is Directors-General of the FCO. One non-executive FCO board member also sits on the number 1 selection board. Membership of the number 2 selection board is drawn by rotation from the list of FCO Directors. FCO Directors and Directors-General are appointed to those positions on the basis of merit.
	The Band D selection board appoints heads of mission in the delegated grades, that is those grades below the level of the senior civil service. This board is chaired by the Human Resources Assistant Director for Operations. Its members are volunteers at SCS level, who are required to have experience of working in our missions overseas as well as in UK positions. Their membership of the selection board is approved by the trade union side.

Diplomatic Service: Recruitment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which towns his Department participated in  (a) careers fairs and  (b) community business events in order to extend the diversity among its recruits.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has participated in careers fairs at the following locations in 2007 and 2008. For the years previous to 2007, 1 refer to the answer of 6 November 2006,  Official Report, column 838W on careers fairs.
	
		
			  FCO attendance at careers fairs 
			  Location  2007  2008 
			 Durham 1 1 
			 Cambridge 2 1 
			 Manchester 0 1 
			 London 1 2 
			 Bath 0 1 
			 Edinburgh 0 1 
		
	
	FCO Services, a trading fund of the FCO, attended two careers fairs in Milton Keynes in 2008.
	The Department has not participated in any community business events in order to extend the diversity of its recruits.

Diplomatic Service: Recruitment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1763W, on the Diplomatic Service: public appointments, what outreach activities have been undertaken in the last 12 months.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) takes a targeted approach to outreach activities, aimed at broadening the diversity of our work force, including through a new positive action programme, the Partner University Placement Scheme (PUPS).
	The partner universities are Bath, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Kings College, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford and University College London, and were chosen because they scored highly both in terms of academic achievement and ethnic diversity and/or social inclusion.
	The FCO also participates in Cabinet Office diversity internships taking students from the Summer Development Programme (SDP) and the Summer Placement Scheme (SPS). The SDP is an internship for students from a minority ethnic background and the SPS is for students with a registered disability.
	The FCO has also attended:
	Two university work experience fairs at Durham and Kings College;
	Four university careers fairs at Cambridge, Edinburgh, Bath and Kings College;
	The National Graduate Recruitment Exhibition in Manchester.
	FCO Services, a Trading Fund of the FCO, has attended two careers fairs in Milton Keynes.
	These outreach activities were specifically targeted at the recruitment of candidates for vacancies and work experience schemes. All these events contained a strong message aimed at increasing the diversity base of those who apply for roles at the FCO.

Diplomatic Service: Recruitment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for people appointed to senior posts in his Department on an ad hoc basis by selection boards appointed for the purpose in the last 12 months, how many went to  (a) private school,  (b) state school,  (c) Oxford or Cambridge University and  (d) other university.

Gillian Merron: Four members of staff at senior civil service level have been appointed in the last 12 months by open competition. Of these, two went to state school, one to public and one to both state and private schools. Three are Oxbridge graduates and one attended another university.

Embassies

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of staff are employed at the British Embassy in  (a) Ottawa,  (b) Washington,  (c) Beijing,  (d) Tokyo,  (e) Sydney,  (f) Johannesburg and  (g) Delhi to work on correspondence; and what the average response time to written correspondence to each embassy was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Gillian Merron: Information on the number of staff employed at our embassies in Washington, Beijing and Tokyo, at the high commission in New Delhi, at the trade and investment office in Johannesburg, and at the consulate general in Sydney working on correspondence, and the average response time to written correspondence, is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Embassies

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by the British Embassy in  (a) Ottawa,  (b) Washington,  (c) Beijing,  (d) Tokyo,  (e) Sydney,  (f) Johannesburg and  (g) Delhi on stationery in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: Information on the cost of stationery in each of the last five years at our embassies in Washington, Beijing and Tokyo, at the high commission in New Delhi, at the trade and investment office in Johannesburg, and at the consulate general in Sydney is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Embassies

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by the British Embassy in  (a) Ottawa,  (b) Washington,  (c) Beijing,  (d) Tokyo,  (e) Sydney,  (f) Johannesburg and  (g) Delhi on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: Details of the amount spent on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each of the last five years at our embassies in Washington, Beijing and Tokyo, at the high commission in New Delhi, at the trade and investment office in Johannesburg and at the consulate general in Sydney is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Embassies

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many receptions held at the British Embassy in  (a) Ottawa,  (b) Washington,  (c) Beijing,  (d) Tokyo,  (e) Sydney,  (f) Johannesburg and  (g) Delhi in each of the last five years were organised and funded by (i) trades unions, (ii) charities, (iii) businesses and (iv) other types of organisation; and what income each Embassy received from charges for the use of facilities for receptions in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Embassies

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the value is of the  (a) wine and  (b) other alcoholic drinks held in storage by the British Embassy in (i) Ottawa, (ii) Washington, (iii) Beijing, (iv) Tokyo, (v) Sydney, and (vi) Delhi.

Gillian Merron: Information on the value of wine and other alcoholic drinks held in storage at our embassies in Washington, Beijing and Tokyo, at the high commission in New Delhi, at the trade and investment office in Johannesburg, and at the consulate general in Sydney is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Embassies

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on alcoholic drinks for receptions at the British Embassy in  (a) Ottawa,  (b) Washington,  (c) Beijing,  (d) Tokyo,  (e) Sydney,  (f) Johannesburg and  (g) Delhi in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: Details of the amount spent on alcoholic drinks at our embassies in Washington, Beijing and Tokyo, at the high commission in New Delhi, at the trade and investment office in Johannesburg, and at the consulate general in Sydney in each of the last five years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Embassies

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many receptions were held at the British Embassy in  (a) Ottawa,  (b) Washington,  (c) Beijing,  (d) Tokyo,  (e) Sydney,  (f) Johannesburg and  (g) Delhi in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: Details of the number of receptions at our embassies in Washington, Beijing and Tokyo, at the High Commission in Delhi, at the Trade and Investment Office in Johannesburg, and at the Consulate General in Sydney in each of the last five years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Embassies

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what self-assessment is carried out by the British Embassy in  (a) Ottawa,  (b) Washington,  (c) Beijing,  (d) Tokyo,  (e) Sydney,  (f) Johannesburg and  (g) Delhi to avoid waste and promote efficient use of resources.

Gillian Merron: Effective financial monitoring and efficient use of resources is a high priority at all our posts overseas. The Head of Mission is responsible and accountable for oversight of the application of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's universal financial controls at that post, with the day to day management of post budgets being overseen by a management officer.

European Union: Civil Servants

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which personnel of the devolved administrations EU office personnel have been on training or educational programmes run by his Department in each year since the establishment of each office; what the name of each programme was; and what the cost of each was.

Gillian Merron: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ilois: Resettlement

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 699-700W, on Ilois: resettlement, when he expects the costs in the case of R (Bancoult)  v. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to be finalised; and if he will make public the information when it becomes available.

Gillian Merron: The costs of the respondent in the case of R (Bancoult)  v. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the House of Lords on which judgment was given on 22 October 2008 have not yet been finalised. Subject to any unforeseen actions that arise in the court process, it is expected that the issue of costs be finalised in accordance with the applicable court procedures over the next few months. The information on costs will be made available to Parliament and to the public, assuming such disclosure is permitted by the courts.

India: Christianity

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of allegations that  (a) the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and  (b) the Rashtriya Swayamsesak Sangh are linked to the campaign of violence against Christians in Orissa; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government are aware of reports that individuals from these organisations were involved in the recent violence in Orissa State. We are not in a position to verify this credibility. It is for the government of India and the relevant state authorities to investigate any such links and take appropriate action.

India: Terrorism

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Indian government on the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Bill Rammell: Since the terrorist attacks in Mumbai my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has been in touch with Indian Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee. He has expressed the UK's full support to the Indian government in its efforts to investigate the attacks and bring to justice those responsible.

Iraq: Christianity

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will urge the Iraqi government to conduct an investigation into the alleged involvement of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in the recent assassinations of Christians in Mosul, and to publish all that investigation's findings.

Bill Rammell: The Iraqi government has established a high level investigatory committee to look into the violence in Mosul. We will discuss the findings with the Iraqi authorities when the report is completed.

Iraq: Christianity

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will urge the Iraqi government to support the rights of Iraq's minorities by reinstating Article 50 in the new provincial elections law.

Bill Rammell: On 8 November 2008, Iraq's Presidency Council ratified an amendment that reinstated Article 50 in the new provincial elections law. The amendment provides guaranteed seats on provincial councils for Christians, Yezidis, Shabaks and Mandeans in Ninewa, Baghdad and Basra provinces in the forthcoming elections.

Israel: Prisoners

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the UK's intelligence agencies have sought assurances from their Israeli counterparts on their humane treatment of detainees in the last five years.

David Miliband: It is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on operational intelligence matters.

Rashid Rauf

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Pakistan government on the suspected death of Mr Rashid Rauf following a US air strike on the village of Ali Khel on 22 November 2008.

Bill Rammell: We do not have confirmation of the death of Rashid Rauf. Following a request from his family, we have requested official confirmation from the Government of Pakistan.

Russia: BBC External Services

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of staff employed by the Russian Service of the BBC World Service were previously employed in media posts in the former USSR.

Caroline Flint: All staff employed by the BBC, regardless of country of origin or background, have to meet robust selection criteria, and once working for the BBC must adhere to strict editorial policies and guidelines. The BBC does not keep specific information about their previous employment.

Russia: British Council

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the reductions to the British Council's regional network in Russia are, as referred to on page 28 of his Department's Autumn 2008 Performance Report.

David Miliband: The reductions to the British Council's regional network referred to on page 28 of the Autumn Performance Report referred to the planned closures of the following British Council regional centres:
	Irkutsk;
	Krasnoyarsk;
	Nizhny-Novgorod, Russia;
	Novosibirsk;
	Omsk;
	Rostov-on-Don;
	Samara;
	Sochi;
	Volgograd;
	Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
	In addition to this strategic reduction, the British Council suspended its operations in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg in 2008. The British Council now has a single office in Moscow, without walk-in public access. The resources from its former library and information centre in Moscow were handed over to the State Library of Foreign Literature and have been made available to the public.

Sri Lanka: Armed Conflict

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of people arrested and detained in Northern Sri Lanka in connection with the conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam since January 2008.

Bill Rammell: It is extremely difficult to obtain accurate, independent information about events in northern Sri Lanka where the armed forces are engaged in active military hostilities with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and so we have no credible information on which to base an estimate. We nevertheless continue to be seriously concerned about human rights across Sri Lanka, including reports of incidents of the targeting and mistreatment of civilians, intimidation of the media, abductions and disappearances, arrests and detentions and the internal displacement of the population by conflict.

UN Security Council

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has made a recent proposal to the Secretary General of the UN regarding the rotation of the countries holding a veto in the UN Security Council.

Bill Rammell: The Government have made no such proposal.

UN Security Council

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the UK last used its veto in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)  (a) alone and  (b) with one or more other members of the UNSC doing so at the same time separately or collectively, with other members of the UNSC.

Bill Rammell: The UK last used its veto alone in the UN Security Council on 29 September 1972. The UK last used its veto with one or more members of the UNSC on 23 December 1989.

UN Security Council

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the UK has used its veto in the UN Security Council (UNSC)  (a) alone and  (b) with one or more other members of the UNSC doing so at the same time in the last 20 years.

Bill Rammell: The UK has used its veto in the UN Security Council 30 times. It has used its veto alone five times. On the remaining 25 occasions, it used its veto at the same time as other members of the P5.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Zimbabwe, with reference to the recent riots and protests by the Zimbabwean Army; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: There have been outbreaks of violence by soldiers not being able to access their pay after banks appeared to run out of cash. This is a further illustration of the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe caused by the misrule of Mugabe's government. Restrictions on public meetings and marches persist. Abductions of individuals belonging to the MDC and others defending human rights continue to demonstrate that Mugabe has no intention of reform and genuine power sharing. The EU has unanimously condemned the current health crisis as being a consequence of Mugabe's misrule and has agreed to extend targeted measures against his clique. We are providing humanitarian support for those effected by disease and hunger. We will continue to work with the wider international community who are increasingly vocal in their calls for change in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe: United Nations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on future action on Zimbabwe by the UN Security Council; what steps are next envisaged; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We are pursuing all available options to encourage a resolution of the crisis in Zimbabwe, including further UN Security Council discussions. We will continue to ensure that Zimbabwe remains on the Council's agenda, and that it continues to press for an urgent end to the crisis. The Security Council discussed Zimbabwe on 15 December and we will press for further discussion in the coming months. Pressure from African leaders will also help to secure a change for Zimbabwe.